President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has commissioned an ultramodern Police Barracks at Kwabenya, a suburb of Accra with related facilities such as an AstroTurf Football field, volley and Basketball courts.
The newly constructed Kwabenya Police Baracks essentially is to relocate personnel of the Ghana Police Service at the Kotoka International Airport.
The move forms part of government’s measures to re-develop the 80 acres of land around the country’s International Airport into a modern commercial hub, dubbed the “Aviation City Redevelopment Project” at the airport enclave.
The project, initiated and built by the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources (MLNR) in collaboration with Ministry of Interior, comprise: two-storey modern police station and a 322, 1 and two bedroom housing units and a School Complex.
Also included is a Clinic, External works; car parks, Green Areas, pavements, transformer, water systems, Fuel station with Lube bay, base workshop complex as well as Police mechanical workshop.
At the commissioning ceremony of the first phase out of the two phased Project on Wednesday, President Akufo-Addo said the new Barracks reenforces government’s commitment to providing the needed infrastructure, resources and motivation to the Police Service to maintain law and order.
Particularly with the accommodation facilities, the President maintained that would go a long way to reduce the accommodation challenges of the police.
Accra, the nation’s capital, according to him is going through a rapid urbanisation, a trend which presents some great opportunities and major driving force for modernisation, economic growth and development.
It is estimated that Ghana’s urban population would reach 72 percent by 2035.
These increasing levels of urban growth, President Akufo-Addo emphasised “presents a unique challenge as well as opportunities to develop innovative solutions to the growing demands for housing, infrastructure and public services in the country’s major cities.”
According the President, it also requires a new concept of security with well-resourced police service to deal with emerging threats in today’s world, hence the newly Police Barracks.
In addressing these challenges, President Akufo-Addo said government over past 6 years had been working tirelessly to implement a comprehensive urban development strategy.
This strategy he indicated include affordable housing, improved transportation networks and the upgrading of public facilities such as schools, hospitals and police stations.
“We’ve made considerable strides in this respect, he stated adding: “since 2017, we’ve launched several initiatives aimed at addressing Ghana’s housing deficits which currently stands at some 2 million units.”
In spite of these measures, President Akufo-Addo said rising urbanisation continues to put immense pressure on the country’s limited land resources which has led to the degradation of some prime lands in urban areas.
This, he said it is of utmost importance that the country prioritise public lands to the utmost use of land resources.
“That is why government through the MLNR and the Lands Commission have embarked on an ambitious urban renewal program aimed at redeveloping prime areas in major cities across the country,” the President stated.
President Akufo-Addo urged the MLNR and Land Commission to work in earnest and complete the remaining 192 housing units and other facilities that make up the second phase of the project.
He said work is 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 Region office of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority.
The President commended the Minister of MLNR, Abu Jinapor for the smart initiative of a land swap agreement and partner with stakeholders in addressing the accommodation challenges of the police service.
The Minister of MLNR, Abu Jinapor said with Ghana’s population over 30 million, it is imperative that the country put its limited land to maximum and judicious use.
“This is why the urban redevelopment scheme is being implemented by MLNR in partnership with Lands Commission and the Land Use and Spatial Planning Authority, to utilise such lands…contribute to the socioeconomic of our country,” he stated.
Rex Mainoo Yeboah, ISD