President-Ghana Real Estate Developers Association (GREDA), Patrick Ebo Bonful, has stated that effective collaboration with stakeholders empower them to utilise their distinct skills, resources and views in tackling the challenges linked to housing in Ghana.
“By fostering effective collaboration, stakeholders can leverage their unique expertise, resources and perspectives to address the complex challenges associated with housing,” he said.
He made this statement at the just-ended GREDA 35th anniversary and awards dinner dance held in Accra. It was themed ‘35 years of successful housing delivery through stakeholder collaboration’, as part of the agenda to recognise and appreciate members for their exceptional achievements in the building sector.
It also seeks to recognise their contributions to development of the association, engender healthy competition among members and contribute to improving on the housing delivery of members.
Mr. Bonful added that when diverse stakeholders come together they can collectively identify and address specific needs of the community, including affordable housing, housing quality and access to social amenities.
According to him: “The real estate sector contributed nearly GH¢11 billion (US$1.9billion), or 2.9 percent to GDP at current market prices in 2020, up from GH¢9billion (US$1.5billion), or 2.5 percent in 2019. This represents 22 percent growth, which marks a notable reduction from the 44 percent growth witnessed between 2018 and 2019”.
Apart from winning the Overall Real Estate Company of the Year award, Lakeside Estates won four other awards which include the Green Award; Best in High-End Community Set -Up award; Best in Middle-End Residential award and Gated Community-Middle End award.
In an interview with B&FT, Managing Director-Lakeside Estates, Dr. Prince-Joseph Ayiku, expressed satisfaction with the recognition.
“We had five awards, which means Lakeside Estates swept manycategories at the GREDA awards, and we are happy that our works are actually speaking for us. Lakeside Estates has been a real estate company for the past 25 years, and we are dedicated to providing quality housing for the nation. I would like to say that the entire team of Lakeside Estates has really worked hard to get to where we are today, and this award validates or confirms the hard work of the entire team and our commitment in the industry.”
The GREDA President’s special award went to Philip Korletey; the late Torgbor Mensah was honoured with the GREDA housing personality award; Regimanuel Gray Limited, Best in High-end Commercial, best in exterior works (landscape) and Apartments-middle end award; while Adom City Estates won the Best in affordable (low-end, residential award).
Others include Locus Estate Limited -Best new entrant-residential, Blue Rose Limited – Gated community-low end, Swami India Ghana Limited -Apartments-high end.
Republic Bank PLC also won the best financial institution-mortgage finance; and Interplast Ltd. best in plastic building materials and best in glazing/aluminium. Tropical Cables and Conductors Limited took home best in electrical cables manufacturing; West Africa Hardware and Decor Limited-best in interior decor, Sethi Brothers-best in steel products; FBA Security Systems-best in residential security systems; Elrano Projects and Consult, best in real estate consultancy; Somotex Ghana Limited-best in electrical materials; and JL Properties, GREDA special award.
