Investor selection for Saglemi Housing project will be transparent – Oppong Nkrumah
The Minister for Works and Housing, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, has assured the public that the government’s procedures to engage private partners for the completion of the Saglemi Affordable Housing Project will be transparent to eliminate any perception of corruption.
He reiterated the commitment of the government to ensure the completion of the project before the December polls.
“We have very little time and if I compare the time and the needs of the people, it demands that we speed up with some key projects, including Saglemi, and that is why we hope to bring a private investor onboard to complete the project,” Oppong Nkrumah said on Citi FM on Wednesday, March 27, 2024.
During an inspection of the project site, Mr Oppong Nkrumah disclosed that a technical team had been tasked to issue an international expression of interest to find an investor for the project.
According to him, an estimated $100 million is required to make the place habitable.
READ ALSO: Govt To Partner Private Investors To Complete Saglemi Housing Project
But, the Ranking Member on the Works and Housing Committee, Vincent Oppong Asamoah, alleged that the government intends to offload the project to its allies and cronies.
Responding to the allegations, Mr Oppong Nkrumah said: “We are all not happy about the delay of the project but we have to find a solution to it and so we either use taxpayers’ money or invite a private investor and it is sad when we put up a good thing, people come up with name calling and so if the ranking member has any ideas, we welcome him and we are going to be transparent on whoever we bring on board and we will publish the list of bidders.”
The Mahama administration started the 5,000-unit affordable housing project in 2012.
The project was, however, stalled over allegations funds were misappropriated.
The project which is located at Prampram in the Greater Accra Region was intended to reduce the country’s massive housing deficit.
It is seated on a 300-acre land with one to three-bedroom apartments for low-income earners.
It has 3-floor buildings with 6 to 9 apartments with living space ranging from 40 m² to 85 m².