The President of Ghana  Akufo-Addo has expressed worry over the high cost of housing in the country.

During an interaction with some members of the Ghana Chamber of Construction Industry, when they paid a courtesy call on him, the President blamed the development on expensive methods of construction.

Specifically, he cited the use of foreign building materials which come at a high cost.

He contended that in countries like the United States of America (USA), buildings are relatively cheaper because contractors patronise local materials, which are relatively cheaper.

“The richest country in the world, America has some of the cheapest Housing that you can come across You’ll get mansions for as low as $100,000, $200,000 while in Ghana, a three-bedroom house in East Legon is going for about $350,000. This is because the material that goes into the construction in the US are local, indigenous, and very cheap.”

He noted, however, that if the country will be able to deal with the infrastructure deficit, particularly the Housing deficit, a critical aspect is the ability to build Houses at a cheaper cost.

He, thus, entreated contractors to patronise local materials for construction as well as the services of local contractors since it will not only come at a relatively cheaper cost but will also reinforce the Ghana Beyond Aid agenda.

“I used to complain all the time that I didn’t understand why when it comes to the building of roads or any serious engineering work in the country, you only hear of foreign countries. That’s not a narrative that does us any credit.

“I don’t know any serious developed country where you go and find foreign elements as the main builders or the main contractors. They are local people and that’s what we have to work towards here in Ghana.

“Because at the end of the day if the Ghana Beyond Aid mantra is going to move from just talk to reality, it means that we will have to take control of our economic destiny and make sure the local market is dominated by Ghanaians and we have value creation done by Ghanaians.”