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Fiifi Kwetey lied about NPP's housing record

This was the verdict of the Media Foundation for West Africa's (MFWA) Fact-checking on comments he made during the launch of the NDC manifesto last Sunday in the Brong Ahafo region.

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He also misled everybody when he claimed that the $1.5 million investment in the Tema Port is the largest investment in Africa.

Addressing NDC supporters at the manifesto launch, Mr Kwetey said: "But listen, even though they [The NPP] had so much more revenue than us, between 1993 and 2000…NDC was able to build houses. When you go to Adenta, you see houses. When you go to Sakumono, you see houses. You go to Dansoman, you see houses. You go to Tema Community 3, you see houses built by the NDC government between 1993 to 2000, and also houses in all the regional capitals. How many houses did NPP build? Zero, not even one chamber and hall! Not even one single room was completed in eight years of the NPP."

However, fact-checking Mr Kwetey's comments, MFWA mildly said it was "false."

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MFWA said in a statement that the NPP undertook various housing projects, some of which were completed before the party left office in 2008.

It continued: "The NPP built 5,138 units of “Affordable Houses” in Kpone Katamanso (1,788) and Borteyman (1,572) near the Legon Farms in Accra, Asokore Mampong (1,092) in Kumasi as well as in Koforidua (342), Tamale (200) and Wa (144). At the time of leaving office, about 60% of the houses were roofed and some painted. Others were at various stages of completion. These houses were, however, not completed and handed over to people to live in.

"Housing projects that were completed in the NPP’s administration included the AU Village in Cantonments and another project similar to the AU village located at Ridge in Accra near the National Health Insurance Scheme Head office.

"During the NPP’s term in office, the Ghana Military Barracks at Burma Camp, (popularly dubbed Beijing Barracks) was built. The cost of the project was $3.8million. According to information on the website of the Ghana Armed Forces, the barracks comprises “3 Blocks of 28 units each, 2 Blocks of 12 units each to accommodate 24 married couples. 84 single quarters.” Works on the project started in March, 2003 and it was commissioned on 11 March, 2004.

"It is therefore false to claim that “not even one single room was completed in eight years of the NPP,” when aside from the projects cited above, Ghana’s Presidential Palace, The Flagstaff House, was built by that administration."

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On the $1.5 million Tema Port expansion project, MFWA said it’s true that 1.5 billion dollars has been sourced for the expansion of the Tema Port, but, it’s misleading to state emphatically that the amount has been invested and that it’s the largest investment in the transport sector across Africa.

It said: "Kenya has seen an amount of 13.8 billion dollars being invested on a railway project. According to CNN, “It’s been billed as the most ambitious project in Kenya since it gained independence in 1963. Now, the first section of the east African nation’s  is .

" worth $3.2 billion in expanding and developing the Port of Durban. The project will majorly involve expanding the container terminals, deepening and widening the harbour and also boast a new ultra-modern passenger cruise terminal, which will harbour big vessels bringing international tourists."

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