The University of Cape Coast (UCC) branch of the Federation of University Senior Staff Associations (FUSSAG) has begun a housing project at Dwirakyim in the Komenda-Edina- Eguafo-Abrem Municipality for its members. The project dubbed “FUSSAG-UCC Village” will provide accommodation for members of the Union who purchased plot of land at the Dwirakyim Community. The FUSSAG Village”, is being developed on a 200-plot land, already been sold out to members. The first phase comprising 20 buildings would consist of three bedroom and four bedroom flats at the cost of GHȻ 70,000.00 and GHȻ 80,000 per unit respectively, on demand basis. The first phase of the project is to be completed within 12 month. The project is being pre-financed and constructed by A.K.A Consult, while interested members would pay through a 10-year mortgage plan. The company pre-financed a similar housing project for the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology Branch of FUSSAG.
Speaking at the sod-cutting ceremony, the Pro-Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast, Prof. John Nelson Buah who broke the grounds for the start of the project, commended the association for the initiative and underscored its importance to both the university and FUSSAG members. He commended FUSSAG for taking such a giant step to provide affordable housing project to provide decent accommodation to its members. He admitted that the University was seriously handicapped in the area of providing accommodation to staff and therefore, the project was a sigh of relief to management, stressing that “You have really shown the University the way to go and I am proud of your foresight.”
Prof. Buah recounted instances he could not offer assistance to the request from some staff who had genuine accommodation problems. He seized the opportunity to call on the contractor to provide quality work and also deliver the first phase of the project within the stipulated period. He finally thanked the chief of the community for making the land available to FUSSAG adding “Any chief that want the learned around his community is progressive a leader”
The Chairman of FUSSAG-UCC, Mr. Daniel Egyir described the commencement of the project as a dream come true. He said the idea, conceived two years ago, was aimed at reducing the accommodation burden on the university management.
He noted that the project was in fulfilment of a promise by the executives of the union to provide affordable houses to minimise the burden of management concerning issues of accommodation. He observed that there had been several instances where members of the union mounted pressure on him for allocation of the limited University accommodation.
Mr. Egyir pointed out that the union therefore embarked on the housing project to solve the accommodation challenges members face in the University. He also expressed appreciation to Alpha Hands for facilitating the release of large parcel of serviced plots for members of the union to purchase. He further thanked AKA Consult for responding to the request of the Union to construct the houses at FUSSAG Village at reasonable prices and flexible terms of payment.
Dr. Kweku Gyasi Badu, Deputy Registrar of the Division of Human Resource, UCC, who chaired the function, also commended the association and charged the developers to deliver quality work and also work within schedule.
The chief of the Dwirakyim, Nana Dwira (V) assured FUSSAG and the contractor of the project of his support. He prayed for God’s blessings for the successful completion of the project. The immediate former Secretary of FUSSAG, Mr. Emmanuel Aidoo advised the executives of the Union to partner management to ensure the sustainability of the project without unnecessary delay or interference in the event of change of leadership. He remarked that “I am very excited to witness this sod-cutting ceremony which signifies the realization of the long awaited dream of FUSSAG.”
Present at the function were : College Registrar, College of Health and Allied Sciences Mr. Gordon Mensah, representatives of Alpha Hands, AKA Consult-contractors for the project and some members and executives of FUSSAG.
Compiled by Emmanuel Aidoo (Secretary )- FUSSAG