The new Minister of Works, Housing and Water Resources, Ahmed Ibrahim, officially assumed office last Tuesday, with a pledge to pursue a non-partisan, long-term approach to tackling the country's housing deficit.
He explained that no single government could complete large-scale housing programmes within one term.
As a result, he said, tackling the country's housing deficit and completing ongoing projects would require cooperation across party lines, coordination among his ministry and the Ministry of Finance, and sustained political will beyond electoral cycles.
“As a country, where are the leaders of this country?
We need to put our acts together.
We need to reset this country. We need to have a national vision, not a partisan one, no matter what.
Twenty months are gone.
We only have two and a half years,” he said in apparent reference to the government’s remaining ruling mandate until the next government assumes power.
“So, if you have an ambitious housing project, how will you complete it? You will need the buy-in of the other party so that we move together as a country,” Mr Ibrahim said.
Handing over
The Works, Housing and Water Resources Minister made the pledge when he assumed office in his new portfolio.
Mr Ibrahim takes over from Gilbert Kenneth Adjei, who has moved to the Defence Ministry.
Some directors and officials of the Ministry applaud at the ceremony. Picture: ERNEST KODZI
Mr Ibrahim was himself transferred from the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs as part of a minor reshuffle that included the appoitment of two Members of Parliament to ministerial portfolios.
In his immediate remarks after Mr Adjei had handed over official notes to him, Mr Ibrahim thanked President John Mahama for the confidence placed in him, describing the reassignment with a football analogy.
He said a change in position was a sign of a coach's confidence rather than a demotion.
He paid tribute to Mr Adjei's service over the past 20 months, and congratulated him on his new appointment to the Defence Ministry.
Outgoing minister
The Defence Minister described his tenure as both a great honour and tremendous responsibility.
Mr Adjei credited the ministry's achievements to the dedication of its staff members, singling out the deputy minister, the Chief Director, and other departments and agencies under the ministry for their support during his time in office.
He cited the continued shortage of decent and affordable housing facilities, and ongoing pressures around land, infrastructure and urban development.
Mr Adjei urged his successor to build on the progress made while bringing fresh ideas to the role.
