
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has commissioned an ultra-modern Police Barracks for the Ghana Police Service at Kwabenya in the Ga East District of the Greater Accra Region.
Speaking during the commissioning of the project yesterday, the President said his government, since assumption of office in 2017, had launched several initiatives aimed at addressing Ghana’s housing deficit, which currently stands at some two million units.
Despite these measures, the President stated, rapid urbanisation continues to put immense pressure on Ghana’s land resources, leading to the degradation of prime lands, particularly in urban areas.
“That is why Government, through the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources and the Lands Commission, has embarked on an ambitious urban renewal programme, aimed at redeveloping prime areas in major cities across the country, including the Kumasi Sector 18, Marine Drive Tourism Development Project and the Takoradi Beach Road Redevelopment Scheme, amongst others,” he said.
The President disclosed that the facility is the outcome of one such urban renewal programme, the Aviation City Redevelopment Project, at the Airport enclave.
“It is to pave way for this redevelopment that these state-of-the-art facilities have been constructed, through a public-private partnership with Unique Development Company, for our hardworking men and women of the Ghana Police Service,” he added.
Barracks complex
The new Barracks complex was constructed through a public private partnership between the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, the Ministry of Interior, the Lands Commission, and a private developer, Unique Development Company Limited.
This is to pave way for the relocation of the Police Barracks adjacent Airport City to free the land for the redevelopment of the area into an Aviation City.
The facility is made up of 514 one- and two-bedroom self-contained flats, of which 322 have been completed and ready to be occupied. These units are fitted with modern facilities, and will serve as comfortable homes and afford a conducive working environment for police officers and their families.
In addition to the residential accommodations, the project also provides a school with modern facilities, a clinic, an astroturf football field, a tennis court, a standby generator, a police station, a fuel filling station, a workshop enclave and other essential amenities.
This, the President indicated, is testimony of government’s unwavering commitment to provide decent accommodation and other facilities for security personnel.
He noted that not only will this facility improve the welfare of our police officers, it will also enhance their capacity to serve the country even more effectively.
Second phase
He, therefore, urged the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, Lands Commission and Unique Development Company to work in earnest and complete the remaining 192 housing units and other facilities that make-up the second phase of the project.
“I have been briefed that work is also far advanced on the construction of 15-bedroom self-contained flats for the Ghana Meteorological Agency, the Ghana Airport Company Limited, and the Greater Accra Regional Office of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA). The completion of these projects is crucial to the implementation of the Aviation City Project,” the President stated.
The President commended the developer, Unique Development Company Limited, for partnering with Government to put up these facilities for the Police Service.
Praiseworthy
For his part, the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, thanked the President for his vision to modernise the country’s urban cities through the Urban Redevelopment Scheme.
He said, through this Programme, Government is redeveloping public lands in cities which are being underutilised to contribute to the socio-economic development of the country and give a facelift to cities.
Mr. Jinapor said the Urban Redevelopment Scheme is being implemented in areas such as Kumasi Sector 18, which comprises of Ridge, Danyame and Nhyiaeso Residential areas, Old Tamale Airport, Ridge Sectors 1, 2 and 3 Residential Areas in Cape Coast, and the Aviation City in Accra.
According to him, it is to pave way for the redevelopment of the Aviation City that the new Barrack together with the other projects have been constructed.
He pledged the Ministry’s commitment to continued engagement with all relevant stakeholders to deliver a functioning and robust land administration anchored on integrity.
The Minister of Interior, Ambrose Derry, also thanked all those who worked to complete the first phase of the project and called for a speedy completion of the second phase of the Project.
The Inspector General of Police (IGP), George Akuffo Dampare, assured the President that his outfit will take very good care of the facility, and adhere a strict maintenance culture on the facility.