Minister for Works and Housing, Francis Asenso-Boakye gave an update on the Review of our Rent Laws and Completion of the Saglemi Housing Project at Sunday’s press briefing by the Information ministry.
While the review of the Rent Law is intended to safeguard the interests of vulnerable tenants and create the enabling environment to stimulate private sector investment in the rental housing sector, the urged all well-meaning Ghanaians to take particular interest as Parliament commences engagements on the Bill to culminate, hopefully, in its successful enactment.
On the completion of the Saglemi Affordable Housing Project, the minister intimated that the project was initiated in 2012 for the delivery of 5,000 housing units at a total cost of US$200,000,000.00 under an Engineering-Procurement-Contracting (EPC) arrangement.
However, by the end of the stipulated completion date, there had been some amendments to the original contract, with the project scope reducing from the original 5,000 housing units to the present 1,506 housing units, which currently is at various stages of completion and not immediately habitable due to the absence of basic amenities, including water, electricity, and storm drains, although a significant 98% of the project funds had been expended.
It is worth emphasizing that all these disbursements were made even before this administration assumed office in January 2017.
Consequently, there is an ongoing criminal prosecution at the High Court to determine the discrepancies with the funds expended on the project, vis-à-vis the valued cost of works and original project scope.
To further protect and recoup the taxpayer’s money, the government intends to explore the sale of the project to private sector investors for the completion of the project, at no further cost to the State.
The proceeds from the sale will be re-invested into other Affordable Housing projects.
Mr Francis Asenso-Boakye assured the good people of Ghana, that, as a people-centred government, we remain absolutely committed to bringing finality to the Saglemi Housing Project, while ensuring value for money.
Source: Mybrytnewsroom.com/Kwabena Nyarko Abronoma
