By Seraphine Nyuiemedi
President John Dramani Mahama has cut the sod for the commencement of the Ho Oxygen City Housing project in the Volta region, describing it as a major step towards inclusive and balanced national development. Speaking at the sod cutting ceremony in Ho, President Mahama said the project goes beyond the construction of houses and reflects a deliberate national vision to ensure regional balance, dignified housing and integrated urban growth.
He reiterated his 2024 campaign promise that every region will receive its fair share of the national cake, adding that access to decent housing is a fundamental requirement for human dignity, economic productivity and social stability.
“Housing is one of the clearest measures of a society’s progress. A safe and decent home is not a privilege for a few, but a fundamental requirement for human dignity, economic productivity and social stability, he said”
President Mahama noted that under his development agenda, government is rethinking how cities are planned and built, moving away from uncoordinated urban sprawl to well-planned, serviced and economically integrated communities designed to meet both present and future needs.
He described Oxygen City as a practical demonstration of this new approach, and highlighted the collaboration between state institutions, traditional authorities and the private sector to unlock land responsibly and deliver comprehensive urban infrastructure.
“Oxygen City is a practical expression of this new approach, this project demonstrates what becomes possible when state institutions work in partnership with traditional authorities and private sector actors. Through such collaboration, land can be responsibly unlocked. Comprehensive Planning can be enforced and communities can be created that support housing, commerce, transport, social services and environmental and sustainability, he said.
President Mahama explained that the decision to expand the operations of TDC Ghana Limited beyond the Tema acquisition area to Ho was a conscious policy choice aimed at ensuring that development does not remain concentrated in a few enclaves.
“Development must not remain concentrated in a few enclaves. Our national objective is clear. Growth must be regional. It must be equitable, and it must be purposeful” he said.
He acknowledged Ghana’s persistent housing deficit, particularly among working families, young professionals and public sector workers, and emphasised that housing delivery must go hand in hand with roads, water, sanitation, transport, schools, healthcare and employment opportunities.
He said the Volta Region stands to benefit significantly from the project due to its growing administrative, educational, tourism and investment potential, adding that Oxygen City will serve as a catalyst for job creation, investment attraction and economic growth.
The project, he said, will include multi-storey two- and three-bedroom apartments, modern roads, street lighting, water, electricity and sewage systems. It will also feature public-private partnerships for a four-star hotel, a specialist hospital, shopping malls, entertainment facilities, educational institutions and a golf course.
President Mahama announced that in the 2026 Budget, government has allocated GH¢500 million annually over three years to support district housing schemes, amounting to GH¢1.5 billion. The initiative, he said, will target teachers, nurses, doctors, civil servants and other public sector workers.
Under the scheme, beneficiaries will make a 25 percent deposit and repay the cost of their homes over 15 to 20 years through salary deductions. He assured that the houses will be priced in cedis, not dollars, and offered at single-digit interest rates to ensure affordability.
He further disclosed that government has directed the Ministry of Local Government to begin processes to upgrade Ho and Hohoe municipalities to metropolitan status, with other districts also expected to be elevated in due course.
President Mahama reaffirmed government’s commitment to ensuring environmentally responsible and inclusive development and pledged continued reforms in housing finance, land administration and public-private partnerships.
The Agbogbomefia of the Asogli State, Togbe Afede XIV, who chaired the occasion, welcomed the Ho Oxygen City Project, describing it as timely and crucial to the city’s rapid growth. He highlighted Ho’s rising population, expanding educational institutions, and growing investment activities, noting that these factors make the development of planned housing essential. Togbe Afede also commended the city’s peace, cleanliness, and environmental friendliness, and assured TDC Ghana Limited of the full support of traditional authorities to ensure the smooth and successful implementation of the project.
“We promise to support the authorities of TDC in everyway we can, to ensure that this project progresses very peacefully and it’s completion is realised on schedule” he said.
