Saglemi Housing Units Hit By Theft

A tour to the Saglemi Housing project site has revealed missing electrical wires, cables, windows and essential building components from the yet-to-be-completed residential facility.

The Minority on the Select Committee of Parliament on Works and Housing together with the media visited the project site following the announcement by the government to sell it to a private developer.

Last week, the Minister for Works and Housing, Francis Asenso Boakye announced the government had decided to sell off the project to a private developer who would complete and sell the housing units to the public.

He noted that an additional US$46 million was needed to make the units habitable but the government is unwilling to further fund it with the taxpayer’s money.

The Ranking Member on the Committee and MP for Dormaa West, Vincent Oppong Asamoah; Sene West MP, Twumasi Ampofo; Nkoranza South MP, Agyekum Emmanuel; Sawla-Tuna-Kalba MP, Andrew Dari Chiwitey; and Awutu Senya West MP, Gizella Tetteh Agbotui visited the facility on Tuesday, November 22.

Opemsuo radio’s Parliamentary correspondent, Kwaku Bofah reports that upon arrival it was realised that key building components were missing from the facility.

According to him, electric cables, windows, and burglar proofs were all gone.

Footage from the site showed windowless buildings with detached power outlets abandoned on floors.

The members of the committee believe the theft was an “organised crime”.

The government says it has spent US$196 million on the 1,506 housing project which was started in 2013 by a national Democratic Congress (NDC) government to ease the accommodation deficit in the country.

The Minority in Parliament says it is against the decision of the government to sell the project off to a private developer.

Footage further showed weeds have also taken over the facility.

Source: opemsuo.com/Hajara Fuseini