Politics
It is time for the judiciary to bite harder and faster in the Saglemi case – Ahiagbah
According to Richard Ahiagbah, Director of Communications for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), the Saglemi Affordable Housing Project was a total financial loss for the state.
Already, former National Democratic Congress (NDC) officials, including former Works and Housing Minister Collins Dauda and four others, are on trial for allegedly inflicting the state financial loss in the $200 million Saglemi Housing Project.
According to Mr Ahiagbah, Ghanaians should urge the judiciary to bite harder and quicker in the Saglemi case.
In a statement, Mr Ahiabgah said “A complete financial loss to the state. Perhaps, it is time for Ghanaians to call on the judiciary to bite harder and faster in the Saglemi case before it.
“Note that: The Saglemi Affordable Housing was approved to construct some 5,000 housing units at the cost of $200 million. Instead, the NDC spent $198 million to construct 1,509 housing units or so. Even the 1,500 housing units constructed by the NDC after expending $198 million are not readily habitable. There’s no water, electricity, and other required amenities. In other words, to make Saglemi habitable, the government must invest about $111 million to complete the 1509 units and to provide water, electricity, and related amenities, according to the Ministry of Works and Housing.
“If you add $111 million & $200 million it comes to $311 million, Now, how Affordable would the 1,509 Saglemi housing units be if completed at the cost of $311 million?
“Ghanaians must ponder this! Why did the NDC change the approved 5000 Saglemi Housing Units to be built at $200 million to build 1,509, on the blind side of Parliament?
“Why? The NDC must tell Ghanaians why they revised the project and quit the vain politics of seeking to blame this government for their gross misconduct.”
Former President John Dramani Mahama recently chastised President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for failing to finish the Saglemi Affordable Housing project.
He stated that he knew the President would not touch the project because it was begun by a National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration.
Commenting on the new housing project that the president cut sod for its commencement last week, the flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) said “It is unacceptable that President Akufo-Addo spent over half a billion Cedis on a national cathedral project that has ultimately failed due to corruption and is now abandoned, yet refuses to commit funds to complete a housing project that will help thousands of Ghanaian families.
“Knowing the NPP government they did not want to complete the Saglemi Housing project simply because it was initiated by John Mahama and NDC administration.”
On Tuesday, August 1, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo disclosed that efforts had been made to finish the Saglemi Housing Project, which had been halted since the fall of the John Mahama-led administration.
President Akufo-Addo stated that the Minister of Works and Housing, Francis Asenso-Boakye, has been authorised to seek a private organisation with the financial and technical capacity to complete the project.
The contentious Saglemi Housing Project began in Prampram, Greater Accra Region, in 2012.
However, the new administration led by President Akufo-Addo voiced concerns about the project’s financial viability.
This resulted in criminal charges being brought against several government officials, including the then-Minister of Water Resources, Works, and Housing, Collins Dauda.
President Akufo-Addo stated on Tuesday at the unveiling of a new affordable housing project in Pokuase that Cabinet has entrusted the Works and Housing Minister with ensuring the completion of the Saglemi project to avoid it from deteriorating.
He stated that, in addition to the $198 million already invested in the project, a total of $114 million is required for its completion.
“Based on these assessments and having taken into account the project location and viability, Cabinet directed the resourceful Minister for Works and Housing, Hon Francis Asenso-Boakye, Member of Parliament for Bantama, to ‘explore the possibility of disposing of the Saglemi Housing Project covering 1,506 housing units at the current value to a private sector entity to complete and sell the housing units to the public and no further cost to the govt’,” President Akufo-Addo told the gathering at the sod-cutting ceremony of the new project.
He intimated that a technical working group had been formed, and that the Public Procurement Authority (PPA) had already approved the hiring of a transaction advisor “with the requisite technical and financial capability to complete the project”.
“Indeed the lessons learned from the Saglemi Housing Project have been invaluable in shaping the approach and execution of this new affordable housing initiative.”
The Overlord of the Dagbon Traditional Area, Ya Naa Abubakari Mahama II, has asked the New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer and Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia to run a clean and respectful campaign ahead of the 2024 general elections.
During a courtesy call with Dr Bawumia, Ya Naa Abubakari Mahama II emphasised the necessity of sustaining national unity and peace, whatever of party allegiance.
He reminded Dr Bawumia that his opponent, former President John Dramani Mahama, is also a Dagboni son with similar goals for the country’s growth.
“It’s a critical opportunity for us to demonstrate our maturity, competence, honesty, and commitment to Ghana’s progress,” Ya Naa Abubakari Mahama II said, adding, “You are my son, Dr. Bawumia, and your competitor, John Mahama, is also my son.” You’re both completely devoted to this election.”
The Overlord further emphasised that Dr Bawumia and Mr Mahama should see each other as siblings rather than adversaries.
“He is not your enemy or rival, but your elder brother,” Ya Naa Abubakari Mahama II said. “We have already won the elections as Northerners.” Whoever wins this trophy will return home.”
Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), is clueless about handling the economy, according to Ningo Prampram Member of Parliament Samuel Nartey George.
Unlike Dr. Bawumia, Sam Goege stated that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) flagbearer, Former President John Dramani Mahama, is focused on how the economy would be managed.
“We have been inundated with questions of policy and policy initiatives. John Dramani Mahama has been outlining flagship policy initiatives over the past weeks in public engagements.
“The other one, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has only one message – John Mahama! He is so pathetic and clueless in his engagements so far it explains to us all the reasons our economy under his leadership is in shambles. Bawumia is empty and spent.
“John Mahama has a clear vision and plan to #BuildTheGhanaWeWant. PS: I am open to a factual debate on the policies outlined so far. I’m uninterested in party bots seeking to earn their daily stipend,” he tweeted while reacting to the comment by Vice President Dr Bawumia to the effect that former President Mahama does not understand what it means to have a 24-hour economy.
According to Dr. Bawumia, hospitals, the Electricity Company of Ghana, the Ghana Water Company, petrol stations, and numerous chop bars are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
He urged Ghanaians to oppose Mr Mahama’s proposal.
Addressing a throng in Nalerigu on Monday, November 20 as part of his ‘Thank you’ trip after being chosen NPP flagbearer on November 4, Dr Bawumia remarked, “John Mahama says he has a new idea.” What is the concept? He claims to desire a 24-hour economy. He’s not even aware of the policy.
Today, our hospitals operate 24 hours a day, our power company operates 24 hours a day, our water company operates 24 hours a day, our gasoline stations operate 24 hours a day, and many chop bars operate 24 hours a day. Because of digitization, you may now transmit and receive money 24 hours a day, seven days a week… As a result, he doesn’t grasp his own policies. It makes no sense.
“So I want you to vote for me in 2024 because I will bring a new vision, I will bring a new policy. Mahama is the past, and Dr Bawumia is the future. If John Mahama was there, we would say we have a dumsor economy, you can’t have a 24-hour economy in dumsor. So, you want to vote for Dr Bawumia in 2024, we will take the country to new heights,” Dr Bawumia stated.
Mr Mahama stated that the 24-hour economy will provide work for all Ghanaians.
“The 24-hour economy I proposed is for jobs and more jobs,” the flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) stressed.
He suggested the ’24hr Economy’ concept when he met with leaders from the country’s mother workers union on Tuesday, November 7, 2023, as part of his outreach to key stakeholders in his attempt to reclaim power.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) flagbearer, John Dramani Mahama, wants the government to settle all arrears due to nursing trainees across the country as soon as possible.
According to John Mahama, such delays generate unneeded hardship for pupils.
Mr Mahama says the government must honour its pledge to pay nursing trainee allowances to students at the Krobo Nursing Training School in the Bono Region as part of his trip.
“Nana Akufo-Addo and Bawumia have stated that they will pay the allowances.” I ask you, Nana Addo and Bawumia, if you can hear me, we here at Krobo Nursing Training School, claim you haven’t paid their allowances for two years now.”
“Let the allowance come. Wherever you are, Krobo Nursing Trainees are begging you to let their allowance come,” John Mahama appealed.
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