Government says completing the rest of the Saglemi Housing units remains its topmost priority.

A review of the contract documents by the Attorney General in 2019 advised the government to revert to the original contract that stipulated for the construction of 5,000 housing units.

Government has also been criticised for abandoning the project despite 1,500 units have been completed.

But the new Minister for Works and Housing, Francis Asenso-Boakye insists his outfit will raise funds to rather complete the remaining units.

“Having understood the complexity of the issue surrounding this project, upon assumption of office as the new sector minister for Works and Housing, I directed the Architectural and Engineering Services department (AESL), a consultancy Agency under my ministry to validate the report of the Ghana Institute of Surveyors and advice accordingly. At this stage, we are looking at completing 1,500 units. In fact, the Institute of surveyors mentioned a figure that will be needed to complete the 5,000 housing units but as far as I am concerned my aim is to be able to complete the 1,500 units of the entire project.”

The project, which was commenced under the Mahama administration was stalled due to a decision by the Akufo-Addo administration to probe the financial arrangements around the project.

The former Minister for Works and Housing, Samuel Atta-Akyea, invited the Attorney General to scrutinize the agreements in October 2018.

There were reports that key contract documents were missing or had inconsistencies.

The government feels there appears to have been a misappropriation of funds in the project, resulting in shoddy work.

Source: citifmonline