Board members and delegates of the Company for Habitat and Housing commonly known as SHELTER AFRIQUE, created in 1982 to address acute shortage of decent and affordable housing in Africa due to increase in population, have been enjoined to incorporate local materials and engage in inventive methods of financing as part of their strategy to boost decent and affordable housing.
Prime Minister Chief Dr. Joseph Dion Ngute made the proposals in Yaounde while delivering his keynote address as representative of the Head of State at the opening ceremony of the 40th Annual General Assembly of the company. The PM said it is only through such moves that the huge deficit in decent and affordable housing on the continent Africa will be solve.
The Head of Government lauded the support provided by the company to member states in order to address rising problems of decent and affordable housing caused by increase rising in the urban population.
Dion Ngute said Cameroon has undertaken the development of social housing and has already seen the construction of some 2660 units in different parts of the country. Cameroon, the PM said, subscribed to the initiative in 1982 with just 3.2 billion but has since benefited up to 24 billion through different housing schemes.
The 40th general annual meeting and symposium in Yaounde will for seven days hinge on funding, land titling, access to loans, ways to promote decent and affordable housing as well as reduce informal settlements. The delegates will evaluate the performance of the company, bring policy makers and stakeholders of the housing sector to device ways of improving access to decent houses and accommodation.
Speaking while opening the symposium, the Director General of Sheilter Afrique, Andrew Shimponda and other officials said the deficit in decent affordable housing stands at 56 million units is a war which Africa must address in order to solve the growing rate of urbanization.
Housing and Urban Development Minister, Celestine Ketcha Kourtest is said to over the Presidency of Shelter Afrique at the close of deliberations which is expected to be sanctioned by a declaration dubbed the Yaounde Declaration.
By Doh Bertrand Nua
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