Appiatse Redevelopment Enters Final Phase As Government Begins Construction Of 69 Houses

The government has commenced the final phase of the Appiatse redevelopment project with the construction of 69 housing units for households still awaiting resettlement following the devastating 2022 disaster.

The 69 houses will most particularly cater for those whose lands and houses were affected as a result of the redevelopment of Appiatse in the first and second phase of the project.

The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, cut the sod for the commencement of the third phase, describing the ceremony as a long-awaited milestone in efforts to restore homes, dignity and a sense of community to the affected residents.

The disaster, which occurred on January 20, 2022, claimed lives, destroyed properties and left several people with long-term injuries, with the impact continuing to be felt by affected families.

Mr Buah said the latest phase was particularly significant because it would enable government to settle the remaining affected households and bring the housing component of the redevelopment programme closer to completion. “Our response is guided by one clear objective: to help the affected people rebuild their lives and restore hope,” he said.

Under the first phase of the redevelopment programme, 124 housing units were delivered, while 50 households were compensated under the second phase. The third and final phase will provide 69 housing units to the remaining affected households.

The Minister commended the beneficiaries for their patience and confidence in the redevelopment process, noting that some families had been waiting since the disaster for the opportunity to return to permanent homes.

Homes designed around beneficiaries’ needs

Mr Buah said government had revised the original designs for the houses based on feedback from beneficiaries to ensure that the final structures reflected their needs and expectations.

Although the planning and preparatory processes had taken considerable time, he said incorporating the views of the affected residents was important to ensuring that the completed houses would be suitable for them.

He said the cutting of the sod marked a transition from planning to actual construction.

“Today marks a point where we move from the planning stage to the actual implementation. The cutting of this sod signals the commencement of the construction phase. It is a moment of hope for the households who are still waiting,” he said.

He said suitable land had been secured for the construction and that progress had been made with land acquisition and compensation processes.

Mr Buah acknowledged the complexities associated with land acquisition and compensation and assured stakeholders that government remained committed to addressing the necessary compensation.

Regional commitment

The Western Regional Minister, Joseph Nelson, described the commencement of the third phase as another significant milestone in efforts to restore and rebuild the Appiatse community.

He said the significance of the project went beyond the construction of physical structures, arguing that a home provided security, belonging, privacy and dignity. “Completing the redevelopment therefore means helping families to rebuild their lives in a safe and dignified environment and also providing a renewed sense of permanence and stability,” Mr Nelson said.

He said the redevelopment also had broader significance for the Western Region, demonstrating what could be achieved when government, traditional authorities, local institutions, communities and other stakeholders worked together in response to a difficult circumstance.

According to him, the project further reinforced the importance of safety, resilience and responsible development in communities.

Mr Nelson commended the Lands and Natural Resources Minister, the Appiatse Development and Fund Management Committee, traditional authorities, the Prestea Huni-Valley Municipal Assembly, local implementation structures and other partners for their contribution towards the redevelopment.

He also praised the people of Appiatse for their resilience, patience and continued cooperation throughout the process. The Regional Minister reaffirmed the commitment of the Western Regional Coordinating Council to support the successful completion of the project through facilitation and coordination.

The first phase of the Apiatse project

He said the Council would work with the Lands Ministry, the Municipal Assembly, the Member of Parliament, traditional authorities, project implementation structures and other stakeholders to help resolve outstanding issues, strengthen coordination and maintain momentum.

“Our expectation is that this final phase will be undertaken with the requisite quality, commitment and urgency so that the remaining affected households can have permanent homes and the redevelopment of Appiatse can be successfully completed,” he said.

Call for quality and accountability

Mr Buah also urged contractors, consultants and technical teams involved in the project to treat the development as more than an ordinary construction contract. He said the houses represented homes, communities and a new beginning for people who had endured the consequences of the disaster for years.

“For the beneficiaries, these are their homes, their communities and the beginning of a new beginning for them. Let the quality of the work reflect the importance that we are here to celebrate today,” he said.

He said government had taken note of concerns regarding building materials and urged all contractors and technical teams to ensure that the required standards were maintained.

Mr Buah further said government’s broader objective was to build an Appiatse that was safer, stronger, greener and more resilient, with attention also given to supporting facilities.

The Divisional chief of Brepo, Nana Atta Kojo Brembi commended Minister Buah for his honesty and integrity in pursuit for lands for the final phase of the Appiatse redevelopment project. To the chief, he initially declined to offer land for the project due to what he described as experience he had gone through.

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