Prototypes of two new cities to be developed in Takoradi in the Western Region and Kpone-Appolonia in the Greater Accra Region have been unveiled by the Vice-President, Mr John Dramani Mahama, in Accra. When completed, the two cities, designed by the Renaissance Group, a Russian market investment firm, are expected to provide housing for more than 160,000 people.

The two cities are also to provide new growth points that will ease congestion in Takoradi and Accra and also boost economic activities at Assakai and Kpone-Appolonia.

The projects are to be executed in phases over the next 10 years.
The Takoradi project dubbed ‘’King City’, will be developed on 2,400 acres of land at Assakia, a community close to Takoradi, while the Appolonia project, dubbed the ‘City of Light,’ will cover 2,000 acres near Kpone.

Residents of the two cities will be able to go about their commercial and residential activities within the same geographical location.
Mr Mahama said the initiative was in line with the government’s vision of ensuring that all Ghanaians had access to quality but affordable accommodation.

According to him, the government was ready to partner any foreign investor to ensure that the country’s housing deficit was drastically reduced.
He said the country’s population was on the increase, hence the need to grow social amenities to meet the likely growth in demand.

Speaking on the importance of the Takoradi project, Mr Mahama said the major infrastructural development that the government was undertaking in the Western Region to support the country’s oil and gas industry was going to cause growth in the local economy and eventually lead to the demand for affordable housing.

"The government is going to undertake the Takoradi Port expansion project and revamp the Western Railway Line, Marine landing sites and the gas infrastructure development, all with the Chain Development Bank (CDB) loan.

"As a result of these massive development, we are certainly going to have a population explosion and a drift to the region. It is only natural for such new people to be housed. It is for these reasons that the government readily accepted the proposal from the Renaissance Group to undertake these developments,’’ he said.

The Chief Executive Officer of the Renaissance Group, Mr Stephen Jennings, said the company’s vision was to create world-class infrastructure and urban solutions to support Africa’s economic growth.

He said the choice of Ghana was due to the strong economic record the country had posted over the last few years, coupled with its fledgling democracy and peace.

"Ghana’s powerful combination of dynamic economy and business-friendly environment will allow it to create solutions to rapid urbanisation and demographic growth faster than many countries in the world,’’ he said.

Osahen Katakyie Busumakura III and Nii Tei Adumuah II, the chiefs of Takoradi and Appolonia respectively, pledged their support for the projects and underscored the critical role they were going to play in the socio-economic development of the two places.

The Renaissance Group has already development similar projects in Zambia, Kenya and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Source:  Daily Graphic

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