The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) has commenced round the clock construction of permanent single room housing units for residents displaced by a devastating fire at Kofikrom, in the Avenor area of Accra.
The project is intended to replace the wooden structures that previously housed squatters with more durable block buildings, providing safer accommodation and reducing the likelihood of future fire outbreaks.
Progress on the site has been encouraging, with 10 rooms already reaching lintel level, while more than 100 other units have advanced to the second course of blockwork.
Accra Mayor Michael Kpakpo Allotey visited the construction site on Monday, October 26, 2026, to assess the progress of work and engage with the workers involved in the project.
During the inspection, he urged the affected residents to organise themselves and contribute to the ongoing construction efforts to ensure the timely completion of the first phase, which is expected to be ready within one week.
Work at the site is progressing at different stages, with construction teams laying concrete blocks to establish the walls of the proposed rooms. While some units are nearing the lintel stage, others remain in the initial stages of construction as the layouts of individual rooms gradually take shape.
The Mayor reaffirmed the Assembly’s commitment to improving living conditions for the affected residents, noting that the redevelopment would help address the dangers posed by overcrowded settlements made up of combustible wooden structures.
He explained that the decision to maintain construction activities throughout the day and night was aimed at speeding up the delivery of the housing units and reducing the period residents would have to wait for more secure accommodation.
The Assembly also intends to transform the area into a better-organised residential community, supported by essential services and improved infrastructure.
As part of the broader redevelopment plan, the Mayor had earlier announced that electricity, borehole water and streetlights would be provided to residents free of charge to improve safety, security and comfort within the settlement.
The intervention follows a major fire outbreak at Kofikrom, located in Accra’s North Industrial Area, which destroyed numerous wooden structures, displaced several residents and claimed the lives of a mother and her daughter.
The blaze also affected parts of nearby industrial facilities, including Duraplast, raising fresh concerns about the dangers of residential settlements located close to industrial installations.
In the aftermath of the incident, the AMA carried out clearance operations to remove damaged structures, burnt materials and other debris, making the affected area accessible and preparing it for redevelopment.
The ongoing construction represents the Assembly’s latest effort to provide more secure housing for the displaced residents while addressing longstanding safety concerns within the settlement.
By: Prince Martey-Sogar.