The Ga North Municipal Assembly has urged the government to repurpose the stalled Pokuase-Mayera Affordable Housing Project into a modern business and industrial centre to support economic activity and reduce pressure on Accra’s congested markets.
The project, launched in August 2023 under the previous New Patriotic Party administration, was intended to provide 8,000 low-cost housing units under the National Affordable Housing Programme.
The groundbreaking ceremony was led by then-President Akufo-Addo and former Works and Housing Minister Francis Asenso Boakye. The housing units were to be constructed on a 203-acre parcel of land to serve low-income earners in the Pokuase-Mayera area.
However, despite its scheduled completion in 2024, the project remains largely unfinished. During a site visit by Channel One News, it was observed that most of the land is still vacant. While some buildings have reached the second or third floor, they remain unplastered and incomplete. The few nearing completion have only their ground floors painted and fitted with doors and windows, far from achieving the target of 8,000 units.
Municipal Chief Executive for Ga North, Akwetey Agbo, disclosed that the Assembly is yet to fully assess the situation but has received reports that some developments on the land are proceeding without permits.
“I’ve had a report that some of the companies don’t have a permit, and they are still going ahead, putting up structures over there. Based on the information that I had, it’s like a group of people partitioned the land among themselves. I don’t even know whether it’s a state-sponsored project or certain individuals hiding behind the state,” he said.
Despite some evidence of construction, including drains and walls, parts of the land are overrun by puddles, overgrown vegetation, and cattle. Channel One News also noted widespread encroachment, with tents for religious gatherings, a soybean mill, and a growing plastic waste collection business set up on the land.
Some locals are concerned that the housing units, if ever completed, would be unaffordable. Instead, they are proposing alternative uses for the land that would benefit the wider community.
Daniel Appiah, a mechanic, noted the project has stalled since the change in government and recommended that the area be transformed into an automobile hub.
“Work has slowed significantly since the change in government. Despite casting our votes, mechanics like us are often overlooked. Perhaps the land could be utilised for an automobile centre, providing opportunities for our trade,” he said.
Other residents, like John Ayitey Okine, are advocating for the development of factories to create job opportunities.
“The project has stalled for a month now. We’d love to see it developed into an industrial hub, creating jobs for the youth. Additionally, when the housing project is completed, the units might be expensive for many, so an industrial hub would be a good alternative,” he said.
Christiana Timothy, a trader, raised concerns about the sequencing of construction activities.
“What exactly is the essence of the drainage systems on the land? They could have completed the houses before constructing the drainage systems. What if the project stalls completely? The drains will be of no use. I wish they’d complete it, to provide jobs for the youth in this area,” she remarked.
Stephen Quarshie, an electrician, believes a technical school would be more useful.
“Given the technical background of most local youth, I believe a technical educational institution would be more valuable than housing. Unfortunately, the houses are out of our budget,” he stated.
The MCE, Akwetey Agbo, emphasised the absence of a proper market in the Pokuase enclave and disclosed that the Assembly has petitioned the Ministry of Works and Housing to consider converting the land into a business centre.
“That land can be used for other useful purposes. The highway has turned into lorry parks and stations and markets. That’s not the way to go. We can’t develop our community that way. We want to engage the central government to come to our aid, and let’s put up a well-structured market, so that we can have at least two thousand to three thousand cars that can park in there and load and have over five thousand women who can transact business there. We want to take the pressure off Accra,” he said.
Agbo added that the Assembly is currently courting investors to help develop industries on the land, which can support both a market centre and industrial facilities.