Deputy Minister for Works and Housing, Eugene Boakye Antwi, has disclosed how the Saglemi housing project units was scaled down twice yet the contract sum of $200m remained unchanged.
The Saglemi Housing project has become a subject of controversy following complaints of abandonment.
The first phase of the project, with 1,500 housing units, which was commissioned by John Mahama in 2016 have been left unused for more than a year now. The ruling government claims the rooms lack various amenities; hence uninhabitable.
Parliament in 2012 approved the sum of $200 million for the construction of 5,000 housing units. The project, which was intended to reduce the country’s massive housing deficit is seated on a 300-acre land with one to three bedroom apartments for low-income earners.
But the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government has been accused by the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) of leaving the project to rot.
In defence, Government says it is auditing the project and may be forced to terminate the contract with the company, and ensure the taxpayer's monies are well accounted for, since it appears the state has been shortchanged.
Contributing to a panel discussion on Peace FM's morning show ‘Kokrokoo’, Tuesday morning, Hon Boakye Antwi, who also doubles as Member of Parliament for Subin constituency, claimed there is empirical evidence to show the project was altered without recourse to Parliament from 5000 units to 1502 and reduced again to 1,024 units.
He accuses his immediate predecessor and the John Mahama administration of milking the state by cutting back on the number of housing units Ghana should have received from the contractor in charge of the controversial project.
".....they (NDC) failed to account properly to Parliament over loans acquired for the original number of housing units planned....they even fail to inform Parliament of the decision to downsize the original number," the deputy minister disclosed.
Watch further revelations in the video below:
Source: Rebecca Addo Tetteh/Peacefmonline.com/[email protected]
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Ok. The 700 houses finished, what are you doing with it. The project is completed, if you think former officials were corrupt in this deal, send them to court for prosecution and give the 700 completed houses for Ghanaians to rent, thereby making some money for the state as you pursue the so called thievves. WE ARE NOT CHILDREN IN THIS COUNTRY OO!. Two years after Martin Amidu was appointed, not a single mouse has been prosecuted, yet everyday, the government keeps blaming the former government for its woes. Sefa kayi asked some sensible question that the gentleman didn't answer. The agreement was signed under kuffour in 2002, what did npp do between 2002 and 2008, as that he couldn't say anything but between 2012 and 2016, he has all relevant information. Cherry picking!
Enough of the lamentations! Take the WICKED, EVIL & CORRUPT NDC officials involved to court and if found guilty of STEALING, JAIL and & collect our monies for us!
Mahama has finished paying for the project minus the fees after the second review to 1024 from a high of 5000 with about 700 completed? How does Mahama explain this payment he made to Ghana and Africa?
They have been paid over 90% of the contract sum.
THERE IS NOTHING LIKE SCALING DOWN FOR ANYTHING. THE NPP SAID THE FORMER GOVERNMENT STOLE 100 MAHINDRAH CARS FOR THE USE OF NDC CAMPAIGN. IT CAME OUT THAT IT WAS NOT TRUE. SEGLEMI HOUSING IS ONE OF THE FLAGSHIP OF THE NDC AND SO THE NPP WOULD NOT WANT TO PROMOTE IT. LET THEM TALK ABOUT THE KEJETIA PROJECT THEY SAID WAS NOT BEST ENOUGH. NOW THE FACE 2 IS ABOUT TO START. THIS IS ALSO THE VISION OF MAHAMA WITH FUNDING. THE NPP WILL ALWAYS GET SOMETHING TO SAY JUST TO PAINT MAHAMA BLACK.
CLEARLY KKM IS ONE OF THE NDC ***barred word*** HIDING UNDER A PSEUDO NAME TO TALK RUB BISH AFTER STEALING GHANA BLIND. NOW TO THE NPP GOVERNMENT IF IN THE FACE OF SUCH GLARING ***barred word***, YOU CANNOT PROSECUTE THEM , THEN NOTE THAT SOME OF US WILL NOT VOTE FOR YOU AGAIN. WE HATE SCRATCH MY BACK, I SCRATCH MY BACK BUSINESS.
NPP MUST STOP THE TALKING AND ACT. IF YOU HAVE EVIDENCE OF CORRUPTION AGAINST THE PREVIOUS GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, WHAT IS STOPPING YOUR GUYS FROM PROSECUTING THEM FOR THEIR WRONG DOINGS? SOME OF US ARE LOOSING TRUST AND CONFIDENCE IN YOU. SO DO SOMETHING BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE
Parliament approved $200m for 5000 units and the scope was changed so how much was actually spent. Note approved does not mean actual spend.
GHANAIANS HAVE NOT VOTED FOR YOU TO BE MAKING EMPTY NOISES. ENOUGH OF THE EMPTY NOISE AND RHETORIC. YOU HAVE 19 MONTHS MORE. IT APPEARS YOU STILL BELIEVE YOU ARE IN OPPOSITION CAMP. WAKE UP FROM YOUR SLUMBER. ''AKORA WO MA DA'' IT APPEARS YOU GOVERNANCE STYLE IS IMPOTENT, CLUELESS AND VISION LESS
All these scandals are sitting there yet govt is just watching the perpetrators of these crimes walk about making the loudest noise. If they've refused to prosecute the lawbreakers after two years in office, they should stop repeating the issues. Some of us are getting impatient. Prosecute or shut* up!