The Secretary-General of the Ghana Federation of Labour, Abraham Koomson, has called on President John Dramani Mahama to adopt an institutional approach to the implementation and allocation of the government’s proposed GH¢1 billion housing intervention.
In an interview with Ahotor 92.3 FM reporter Stephen Owusu Mintah, Mr Koomson said the success of the programme should not be measured only by the amount of money committed or the number of houses constructed, but also by the structures put in place to ensure transparency, accountability and long-term benefits for workers and other Ghanaians.
Speaking from a labour perspective, he said government must avoid simply releasing funds without a clearly defined institutional mechanism to ensure that housing projects are completed, properly managed and allocated to the intended beneficiaries.
He cited the Saglemi Housing Project as an example of why government must establish the appropriate structures before committing large amounts of public funds to housing.
Mr Koomson proposed that government could work through recognised institutions and organisations to acquire completed housing units for their workers.
He explained that companies and recognised organisations or institutions could be allocated housing units for their employees or members, with the respective organisations taking responsibility of allocating the units to their staff.
He said media organisations could also benefit from such an arrangement, with institutions such as Ahotor FM receiving units that could subsequently be allocated to members of staff.
According to Mr Koomson, an institutional approach would be more practical because individual workers may find it difficult to navigate the process of applying for and acquiring housing units directly.
“If you want individual people to apply, how is that possible? It will be very difficult for an individual to have access to it or go through the process to acquire the house. So the allocation should be done through the organisations,” he said.
He further argued that allocating houses through recognised institutions would make the process more transparent and help reduce opportunities for corruption and favouritism.
Mr Koomson also questioned how government intends to manage the allocation of the houses and the broader GH¢1 billion housing intervention, stressing that the institutional framework should be established before the funds are deployed.
“I don’t know how government intends to go about the allocation of the houses. That is why I maintain that it should be institutional-based. But if you say individuals should apply, how is that possible?” he asked.
From his perspective as a labour leader, Mr Koomson said the proposed model would give workers a more direct connection to the housing programme and help ensure that the investment serves a long-term purpose.
He said involving institutions, companies and organised labour in the acquisition and management of the houses could also help protect the programme from becoming another government project whose sustainability becomes uncertain after a change in administration.
The call comes as government works to expand Ghana’s housing stock and improve access to affordable accommodation. President Mahama has announced a broader national housing plan, while the Saglemi Housing Project is being revived, with 1,500 units scheduled for completion in phases.
Mr Koomson maintained that the real test of the GH¢1 billion housing intervention would be its implementation, stressing that strong institutional arrangements would be necessary to ensure that the investment produces lasting benefits for Ghanaian workers and the wider public.
Story by Stephen Kwaku Owusu Mintah
