Government will complete 1500 units of the Saglemi Affordable Housing Projects by December 7, the Minister of Works and Housing has revealed.
Samuel Atta Ayea said he is committed to ensuring the homes are completed after completion of an audit into the alleged misappropriation of funds.
“This is one of the major top priorities of my ministry and it’s going to be done. We need to complete them before the year ends,” he told Daniel Dadzie on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show, Wednesday.
The 5000 housing unit facility was started by the Mahama administration in 2012. However, the project was stalled for three years following the controversial allegations.
The immediate past Deputy Works and Housing Minister has fought off claims the Mahama government failed to do due diligence on the project.
Samson Ahi, who is also the ranking member on the Parliamentary Committee on Housing expressed surprise that it has taken government two years to raise the issue about the project.
According to him, government got it wrong with its assessment of the project, urging the officials of the current administration to act on the handing over documents it received on the project during the transition period.
But the Housing Minister said, an audit is ongoing and “when we finish we will be able to use the audit for two purposes: to get a new contractor to complete the structures for human habitation and also refer the matter for criminal prosecution because from our perspective there has been misappropriation of funds.”
The Minister also indicated there have been some suggestions to help tenants regarding rents but no concrete steps have been put in place as a relief for tenants during the coronavirus season.
“As a matter of fact, we’ve not had an influx of complaints that people have been evicted and that is what we are trying to warn people that they shouldn’t go into that area.
“The problem has not arisen for us to go along and find them spaces to live as a relief measure,” the Minister added.