According to the Ministry of Works and Housing, the government has decided to withdraw from the Saglemi housing project to allow a private developer to refurbish the units and sell them to potential buyers.
Sector Minister Francis Asenso Boakye made the announcement at a press conference in Accra on Sunday, November 13, 2022.
He stated that the government is exhausted and unable to make further commitments to the Saglemi project.
On this basis, he stated, "we're allowing a private sector developer to take the initiative to build and sell the housing units."
"A committee will be commissioned to guide the process and ensure transparency in the bidding process," the Minister stated.
The NDC government launched the Saglemi housing project in 2012 with the goal of constructing 5000 housing units.
This did not happen due to alleged financial mismanagement.
The minister stated that the 1500 units constructed are currently inhabitable, and that approximately USD46 million is required to provide water, electricity, and storm drains.
"The government has no plans to spend more money on the project's completion." He stated, "The government has decided to sell the project."
According to him, the high court is looking into the issues of embezzlement and anyone found culpable for crime will be convicted.
It’s unclear what the terms and conditions will be between the government and the private developer and what the state stands to gain.
Currently, a former Works and Housing Minister under the Mahama administration, Collins Dauda, is standing trial together with four others for allegedly causing financial loss to the State in the controversial housing project.
Mr. Dauda and the four others are facing 52 counts of criminal charges for intentionally misapplying public property, wilfully causing financial loss to the Republic, and dishonestly causing loss to public property.
Alhaji Collins Dauda and his successor Dr. Kwaku Agyeman-Mensah, have been accused of spending over $196 million on the Saglemi housing project when investigations revealed that the cost of works executed on the site, including consultancy services, was about $64,982,900.77.