HOUSING AND WATER RESOURCES AGENDA

Housing is one of the critical sectors of the economy that the NDC Government will tackle with all the seriousness it deserves in order make it more accessible to the majority of Ghanaians. Despite the past efforts in this area, the housing deficit continues to grow and presently it is expected to be in excess of 500,000 units.

OUTLOOK FOR 2010

Rural Water Programmes

For Government to achieve the target of 60.0 per cent rural water coverage in the year 2010, the focus this year will be on increasing the provision of safe and potable water in rural communities through the following projects:

  • Sink 1,474 new boreholes, rehabilitate 225 bore holes, dig 1,093 hand dug wells, construct 34 small town pipe systems and construct 134 small community pipe systems; and
  • Train 2,702 Water and Sanitation Committees, 27 District Water and Sanitation Teams, 55 Partner Organizations and Technical Assistance.


Urban Water Programmes

The following projects will be undertaken for urban water:

  • Construction of the 40mgd Kpong Water Expansion II, 4mgd Abesim water project, 4mgd Koforidua water project, 2mgd Bolgatanga water project, 3mgd Wa water project and 2.5mgd Damango water project;
  • Undertake the Berekum water supply expansion as well as the Winneba distribution network; and
  • Rehabilitation of minor and low capacity treatment plants in various parts of the country. Government will also continue with the payment of compensations to land and crop owners across the country particularly at Weija, Cape-Coast, Sunyani, Tamale, Baifikrom and Wa to arrest the continuing encroachment of areas acquired for water supply systems.

Housing

Government will continue with the following in 2010:

  • Exploring of avenues for securing funding with the view of completing the 5,140 safe, decent and low income Government Affordable Housing units at Borteyman, Nungua; Kpone, Tema; Asokore- Mampong, Kumasi, Wamale, Tamale, Koforidua and Wa. Construction of the third phase of the affordable housing units at Ho, Sekondi/Takoradi, Sunyani, Cape Coast and Bolgatanga will also commence.
  • Construction of 10,000 safe, decent and low income affordable housing units on 74 acres of land at Nsakina, Amasaman in the Ga East District released to Messrs Agu Resources.
  • Facilitate the acquisition process of the 50,000 acres of land sourced in Accra as well as in the Regional and District Capitals to accelerate the Government affordable Housing Programme as well as support the private sector in housing delivery.
  •  To sustain the Government Affordable Housing Programme, Government will extend the payment period for purchased houses to the end of June 2010.

National Flood Control Programme

Government will continue to undertake various flood mitigation programmes including widening, deepening and regrading of 20km stretch of primary drains in Accra, the other regional capitals and some selected district capitals as well as undertake the construction of culverts and corresponding inlets and outlets of all primary storm water drainage systems.

Integrated Odaw Basin Development Project

The relocation programme involving the removal of commercial and industrial activities from the KLERP area to Adjen Kotoku will be continued. Work will continue on the 13 kilometre periodic maintenance programme on the Odaw/Onyasia drain as part of the overall KLERP, since the function of the former affects the performance of the latter.

Storm Drainage & Sanitation Systems

Government will undertake the construction of a number of primary storm water drainage and sanitation systems in all the regional capitals to improve upon sanitation and ensure a sustainable environment. Drainage Master Plans will also be developed for various communities so as to improve upon sanitation, ensure sustainable environment and orderly development of physical properties.

Coastal Protection Programme

Government will continue to pursue coastal protection programmes at Dixcove, Prince Akatakyie, Sakumono, Axim, New Amanful Kuma/Funkoe, Osu/Castle, Elmina, Anomabu, Nkontompo, Prampram, Ningo and Senya Breku.

Keta Sea Defence Resettlement Programme

Government plans to contract out 160 houses of various designs and ensure the connection of water supply, sewerage and electricity to completed houses at Kedzi, Vodza and Adzido. It is also programmed to establish the KETA BASIN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (KBDA).
With the objective of supervising all developments in the Keta Basin which is to include among others the administration of the reclaimed land and the management of the KSDP following the completion of the Keta Sea Defence Project.

Ada Coastal Protection Works and Volta River Estuary

Work will commence on the construction of groyne fields and beach nourishment at the shoreline fronting the 5km critical area of the coast of Ada to protect present and future infrastructure development including salt production.

Elmina Benya Lagoon Restoration Project

Maintenance work will continue on the Elmina Benya Lagoon Restoration Project to enhance its performance. Sourcing of funds to restore the lagoons at Cape Coast and Sekondi will also be carried out.

OUTLOOK FOR 2009

National Housing Policy
The Ministry will conclude the National Housing Policy to make it more realistic to the needs of the low income group and submit to cabinet for consideration and approval.

Land Banks

The Ministry will continue to facilitate the acquisition process of the 50,000 acres of land sourced in Accra as well as in the Regional and District Capitals to ensure the availability of land for housing development.

Government Affordable Housing

The Ministry will continue with the housing programme with the aim of completing the 5,140 safe, decent and affordable housing units at Borteyman, Nungua; Kpone, Tema; Asokore-Mampong, Kumasi, Wamale, Tamale, Koforidua and Wa.
To ensure equity and sustainability of the programme, Government will support the Ministry to commence work on the construction of the third phase of the affordable housing units at Ho, Sekondi/Takoradi, Sunyani, Cape Coast and Bolgatanga in the course of the year. The Ministry will continue to create the enabling environment for the private sector to participate in the delivery of decent and low income housing units for the people of Ghana.

Sale of Government Low Cost Houses

The Ministry will conclude the programme for the sale of Government‟s Low Cost Houses throughout the country and plough back the revenue into the construction of the Affordable Housing Projects.

Rural Housing

As part of government commitment to improve social and economic conditions of Ghanaians in the rural areas, the ministry has plans to revive the rural housing rehabilitation schemes started in the early 70s. In this regard, the plans will include wall protection and roof loan scheme and a cooperative rural housing scheme.

The ministry will promote the use of appropriate local building materials like compressed earth bricks , micro concrete roofing tiles, bamboo, clay bricks and tiles through technical skills training programs in close collaboration with the District Assemblies in the following areas:-

  1. Earth Construction Technology,
  2. Brick and Tile Technology,
  3. Micro-Concrete Roofing Technology,
  4. Erosion Control and Drainage Prevention Schemes; and
  5. Incinerator Technology
  6. Slum Upgrading and Prevention


The high rate of rural-urban migration, high cost of land, non-availability of low income houses, high cost of building materials and non enforcement of regulatory frameworks have contributed in the proliferation of slums in our major cities and shanty towns including Zongos. To curb this emerging trend, minimize the destruction of social and economic lives of members of the communities as well as retain community network, the Ministry will initiate programmes to Upgrade physical infrastructure and social facilities.

Rural Water Programmes

The Ministry acting through Community Water and Sanitation Agency (CWSA) will increase the provision of safe and potable water in the country through the following projects:

Sink 1,032 new boreholes, rehabilitate 225 bore holes, dig 25 hand dug wells, rehabilitate 23 hand dug wells, construct 47 small town pipe systems, construct 20small communities pipe systems, construct two rain catchment systems construct 2,105 household places of convenience, construct 1,425 small towns household places of convenience and construct 404 institutional places of convenience.

Train the following:-610 WATSAN Committees, 24 District Water and Sanitation Teams (DWSTs), 28 Environmental Health Assistance (EHAs), 99 area mechanics, 1,840 pump caretakers, 135 latrine artisans, 32 small town operators, 473 School Health Committee and 741 School Health Programme Teachers as well as form 554 WATSAN Committees, 10 Water and Sanitation Development Board (WSDBs), 13 DWSTs and contract 32 POs/TAs, 135 Latrine Artisans.

A water supply scheme is being jointly undertaken by DFID and Government of Ghana which is based on drawing raw water from the Oti River at Damanko to supply potable water to 13 guinea worm endemic communities covering the stretch from Damanko to Kpassa in the Northern part of Volta Region. The project which is earmarked for completion this year is facing a serious challenge due to inadequate Government counterpart funding.

Urban Water Programmes

Access to safe and adequate water to meet basic human needs with emphasis on access by the poor and the vulnerable will be the main focus of the ministry. In this respect the ministry is presently undertaking a pilot study to develop a strategy to sustainably deliver potable water to peri-urban areas in the Brong Ahafo Region. The success of this study will enable the ministry to replicate the program to all peri-urban areas, which are habited by the poor, vulnerable and the excluded, in the country.

To address the present water problems in Accra and parts of the Greater Accra Region, the Ministry will conclude plans for a new water treatment plant to be constructed at Akuse. However, to immediately improve upon water supply situation in the Eastern parts of Accra, the Ministry will ensure the repairs and installation of two defective pumps at the Weija Treatment Plant.

The Ministry acting through the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) will commence the following water projects; Kumawu, Kwahu Ridge, Damongo, Sunyani, Wa, Kpandu, and Konongo.

The rehabilitation of minor and low capacity treatment plants in various parts of the country will also commence at Agona, New Edubiase in Asanti region; Berekum in the Brong Ahafo Region; Breman Asikuma and Dunkwa–on-Offin in the Central Region; Akim Ofoase, Asamankese, Akim Oda, and Suhum in the Eastern Region; Prestea, Bogoso, Elubo, Axim and Aboso in the Western Region; Bawku and Navrongo in the Upper East Region; to ensure the production and delivery of safe water.

The Ministry will also complete the rehabilitation and expansion of the following water projects in the course of the year. Accra Tema Metropolitan Area Rural Water supply expansion and Kumasi Water Supply Projects. The Ministry will continue discussions with interested investors to raise the needed funds to support the urban water supply systems in Techiman, Assin Fosu, Bolgatanga, Berekum, Sogakope-Lome and Kibi.

The Ministry will continue the rehabilitation and expansion of District Water Supply and Medium Capacity Treatment Plants at Swedru, Ekumfi, Ojobi, Dormaa Ahenkro, Techiman, Mampong, Berekum, Bibiani, Begoro, Sogakofe-Keta, Obuasi, Sunyani, and Juapong.

The Ministry will continue the expansion of the distribution networks and systems in Accra including the relocation of the pipelines along the Tetteh Quarshie-Mallam highway, Bortianor, Kokrobite, Amasaman, Santeo, Katamanso, Winneba, Sekondi, Takoradi, Amanfo-Tunko, Butumajabu, Apowa, Kumasi Rural Offinso, Tafo, Nkawie, Pankrono, Sunyani Rural, Chiraa, Nsoatre, Koforidua Rural, Suhyem, Ho Rural, Tamale, Wa, Bolgatanga, Dunkwa, Saltpond, Asikuma-Ajumako, Aflao, Peki, Bogoso, Abakrampa, Asankragua and Anfoega.

The Ministry will undertake the payment of compensation for land and crops to arrest the continuing encroachment of areas acquired for water supply systems at Cape Coast, Owabi, Sunyani, Tamale, Koforidua, Barekese and particularly at Weija. 

INFRASTRUCTURE SECTOR

The broad areas under infrastructure are Water Resources, Works and Housing, Transport, Roads and Highways and Communication. Government’s responsibility is to ensure the provision of safe water and the development of infrastructure in the areas of housing, roads, railways, drainage works, coastal protection, hydrology and water related sanitation facilities throughout the country.

Performance in 2009

WATER RESOURCES, WORKS AND HOUSING

Rural Water

To improve upon rural water supply and sanitation, 280 new boreholes with handpumps were constructed. In addition, 40 boreholes were completed awaiting hand pump installation. Five small town pipe systems are almost completed.

The construction of 1,375 household places of convenience (latrines) was completed with an additional 909 still under construction. Construction of 314 KVIPs (latrines) and 191 institutional places of convenience (latrines) were also completed. Furthermore, training for 11 District Water and Sanitation Teams (DWSTs) and 12 Water and Sanitation Development Boards (WSDBs) was carried out.

Urban Water

Several projects and activities were undertaken to improve urban water supply, including: -

  • Rehabilitation of existing plants at Barekese and Owabi and distribution improvements at Kwanyaku and Tamale. Under the Tamale Water Supply
  • Expansion project, improvements were made in billing, collection and reduction in wastage.
  • Completion of the East - West water transfer interconnection, expansion of the Weija water treatment plant and replacement of 2 defective pumps and motors.
  • Water distribution pipelines were constructed at Swedru, Amasaman, Kasoa, Kumasi, Tamale, Koforidua, Cape Coast and Komenda as well as the relocation of pipelines along the Tetteh Quarshie – Mallam road.
  • Two Boreholes were constructed at Worawora and the Salaga water rehabilitation project was completed. Work on the construction of transmission pipelines, overhead reservoir, distribution pipelines and stand posts was continued.
  • Completion of the treatment plant and raw water intake, water distribution reservoirs and supply by laying about 84.4 km of 200/250/100mm (HDPE) pipelines in and around Baifikrom.
  • The fencing of Weija water works land acquired byGWCL was continued.
  • Signing of a works contract with Messrs China Gezhouba and Power Group Company Ltd to access funding for the completion of an Environmental Assessment as well as for the execution of the Kpong Water Supply Expansion project.
  • Completion of the construction of a new water treatment plant at Bukonor Junction, transmission pipeline, ground and overhead reservoirs, booster station at Kwesi Diaka and 5,000 m³ ground storage tanks and improvements in water management, billing and collection as part of the Koforidua Water Supply Project.
  • Completion of the design of the Kpong water treatment plant, transmission pipeline and ground reservoirs.
  • Contracting ORIO to update the development phase of the existing feasibility study of the Wa water supply project. ORIO also prepared the development phase of the feasibility studies on the water projects at Bolgatanga, Bongo and Navrongo.
  • Signing of a works contract for the Damango and Mampong water supply projects.
  • On the Sogakope-Lome Water Supply Project feasibility study and preliminary technical designs were completed.
  • Commissioning of the installation of a 20,000m³ pilot desalination plant at Teshie in the Greater Accra Region to provide safe water for Teshie and its environs.
  • Under the AVRL Management Contract, completed the procurement of operational vehicles and office equipment; undertook an International Competitive Bidding (ICB) for the repair of dams; and, undertook the rehabilitation of some transmission pipelines at Accra West, Kumasi, Obuasi, Bawku and Navrongo. GWCL’s Strategic Investment Programme (SIP) was also updated and tender documents prepared for the upgrading of the water treatment plants at Agona, New Edubiase, Axim, Elubo, Breman Asikuma and Kpando.

Housing

Under the housing sector, the following projects were undertaken:

  • Government continued with the construction of the 5,140 safe, decent and affordable housing units which are at different stages of completion. Also a 74 acre land was acquired at Nsakina, Amasaman in the Ga East District for the construction of another 10,000 safe, decent and low income affordable housing units;
  • Government also continued the acquisition of the 50,000 acres of land in Adamrobe in the Akuapem North District of the Eastern Region and Nsakina-
  • Amasaman in the Ga East District Assembly of the Greater Accra Region to accelerate the Government Affordable Housing Programme;
  • Construction of 19 units of 3-bedroom self-contained houses for cocoa farmers was completed in the Brong Ahafo, Ashanti and Central Regions using locally manufactured building materials; and
  • Government rehabilitated 46 Ministerial Bungalows located at Cantonments, Roman Ridge, Ridge and Labone, all in the Greater Accra Region. It also drew up a routine maintenance programme to ensure that these bungalows are maintained on a sustainable basis. Contracts were also awarded for the rehabilitation of 18 Senior Civil Servants’ Bungalows. Rehabilitation of the Peduase Lodge was also successfully completed.


Flood Control Projects

Major flood control projects included the following:

  • Construction of a number of primary storm water drainage and sanitation systems at various locations in Accra;
  • Flood mitigation programmes including widening, deepening and re-grading of primary and secondary drains in various communities in Accra; and
  • Construction of culverts and corresponding inlets and outlets of all primary storm water drainage systems.


Coastal Protection Programme

Government continued with the routine maintenance of the coastal protection programmes at Ngyeresia, Dixcove, Prince Akatakyie, Sakumono, Axim, New Amanful Kuma/Funkoe, Osu/Castle, Elmina, Anomabu, Nkontompo, Prampram, Ningo and Senya Breku.

Korle Lagoon Ecological Reclamation Project (KLERP)

Government continued with the maintenance channel and operation of KLERP pumping station including the removal of waste at the interceptor as well as repairs and replacement of electrical items and interceptor gate. It also removed silt at the intake basin and re-dredged the upper lagoon. A 4.2 km access road and about 7.5 km internal roads including culverts structures and services ducts were constructed.

Keta Sea Defence Resettlement Programme

Government awarded contracts to construct about 100 houses at the Keta Sea Defence resettlement site.

Elmina Benya Lagoon Restoration Project

Government undertook post-construction maintenance programme including removal of sediment at the entrance of Elmina Benya Lagoon to ensure safe passage for about 500 – 700 fishing canoes.

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