Audit report on Saglemi housing project ready
The government has handed over the audit report of the Ghana Institution of Surveyors (GhIS) on the Saglemi Housing project to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) for recommendations, Minister for Works and Housing Samuel Atta Akyea has said.
The Ministry of Works and Housing in June this year engaged the services of the GhIS to review the state of the Saglemi Housing Project, including taking inventory of the stock of materials on site.
The minister had accused the former Works and Housing Minister under the Mahama administration, Collins Dauda, of varying the contract terms of the project after parliamentary approval, which was illegal.
According to the minister, although the contractor was paid close to US$200m for the construction of 5,000 housing units, only about 1,000 were built.
Speaking to the media at Parliament House in Accra, Mr. Atta Akyea stated: “Government has not abandoned Saglemi; it is tainted with embezzlement—there is no dispute about it. The GhIS has come out with a conclusive report to the effect that Saglemi is a rip-off. The amount of money that has been blown is over US$100m, but the housing structures over there do not measure up to the monies they have collected.”
On bringing persons culpable to book for the alleged malfeasance, he revealed that several officials involved in the project had been invited by the police for questioning, adding that once the CID concludes its work, it will forward the docket to the Attorney-General for advice.
He said government will find a credible contractor to continue the project, stressing that his ministry is pushing hard to ensure that Saglemi is not abandoned.
In May 2019, the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Gloria Akuffo, recommended to the Works and Housing Minister to refer the alleged malfeasance in the Saglemi Affordable Housing project to the appropriate authorities for criminal investigations and prosecution.
It came after Mr. Atta Akyea had said at a press conference that his ministry was awaiting advice from the Attorney-General on the way forward for the project, which was initiated under the John Mahama-led administration.
The original contract signed under the former administration was supposed to deliver some 5,000 affordable housing units to Ghanaians at a total project cost of US$200m. However, the contract was revised to deliver 1,502 affordable houses at the same cost.
Samuel Atta Akyea says the police have started questioning officials involved in the Saglemi housing project.
PETITION FOR COMMENCEMENT OF THE KITASE SECTION OF THE KITASE BEREKUSO ROAD
CONSENT FROM ABURI – KITASE – AGYEMENTI TOWNSHIP/COMMUNITY, CITIZENS AND ALL COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS AND INSTITUTIONS
To: Minister of Roads & Director/ Lead Engineers of the Ghana Highway Authority
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Urgent & Immediate Action Request:
We hereby request the Ghana Highways Authority to expedite the Kitase -Aygementi-Berekuso Road Construction and to consider and include the following design elements:
1. Street Lights from the main Aburi Road through Aygementi Township/ Lansdown Resort Enclave to Ashesi University;
2. Inland Road Trees Planting or Side Tree Planting especially in around Aygementi Township
3. Side walk for pedestrians/ bicycle from Aburi Kitase junction to Ashesi University only.
4. Utilize the optimal Geometric Design of Highways and Streets Standards in accordance with (AASHTO, 2011)
5. Speed ramps at Lansdown junction, Ashesi University Junction and at Aygementi Township.
6. Traffic light at main Aburi Kitase Junction only.
7. designs for climbing and overtaking lanes, Drainage Channels, Clear Zone,Side Roads and Culverts, Right–of–way, Median at Agymenti Township,
8. Accessories to Road covers the following:
-Bus Bay – Types of Bus Bays, Construction of Bus Bays
-Parking – Parking Lot, Methods of Parking, Dimensions of Parking Lot
-Road Marking
9. Utilize optimal lasting road materials for safety and durability. We request- naturally occurring or processed), aggregates (fine aggregates or coarse aggregates obtained from rocks), binders like lime, bituminous materials, and cement, and miscellaneous materials used as admixtures for improved performance of roads under heavy loads and traffic
10. Whereas, The Kitase Road from the main street junction of the Aburi Road through the Kitase Police Station is a dangerous unhealthy transportation network to major key constituencies and institutions including universities, schools, farms, hotels and tourist resort and emergency response/law enforcement institution (Kitase Police Station). It presents a significant hazard to anyone travelling by vehicle on the road when having to go to a one vehicle road due to the potential human and environmental hazards.
The large hazard and imminent danger including national security risk that is posed by any rock falls on the main Aburi road and potential lock down at the Peduase Presidential Lodge and notwithstanding the highly prominent statesman and woman dwelling within the Aburi Kitase Aygementi corridors warrants a rapid commencement and immediate road construction from the Kitase corridor towards Agyementi Township to Ashesi University. The Police of Kitase are in danger in responding to emergencies effectively and rapidly due to the nature of the untarred rocky hazard road. When it rains it washes the road into in places advancing erosion and flooding to lowlands. The President stated to the students of Ashesi University and the community of Agyementi that the road will be constructed. We are hereby requesting the President and the Minister of Roads to uphold their pledge and have one of the road contractors immediately begin the road construction from the Kitase Agyementi to meet the Berekuso construction which has started.
Whereas the students, township primary school pupils, citizenry, tourist, businesses, community inhabitants and poor farmers constantly subjected to the road hazards and health impact including environmental and natural resource degradation, we request the immediate commencement of the Kitase section of the Berekuso-Kitase road to commence now.
We the undersigned, respectfully request that the unpaved road immediately be properly prepared for paving and then paved immediately. And to include repair or make ditches, gutters, drainage ways to accommodate the flooding of the road.
We the undersigned, respectfully request that the Kitase- Berekuso Road from the Kitase Police Station to Ashsei University MUST be Concurrently Begin Construction Immediately
Organization of Ghanaians Against Negative Impact of Foreigners Coming to Ghana
PETITION TO HIS EXCELLENCY NANA DANKWA AKUFO ADDO AND MEMBERS OF REPUBLIC OF GHANA PARLIAMENT
FROM:
CONSENT GHANAIANS PATRIOTS IN THE DIASPORA AND CONCERN PATRIOT GHANAIANS
Protect Ghana Sovereignty, Indigenous Ghanaian Culture/Traditions, Ghana Lands, Environment, Natural Resources, Ghana Population, Ghanaian Owned Businesses
By:
Think of Ghana First & Protect Indigenous Ghanaians Against Foreigners
Whereas the President Nana Akufo-Addo created and instituted Year of Return in September 2018 in Washington DC, USA. as a program for Africans in the diaspora to unite with Africans, promote foreign direct investment and to serve as a symbolic as it commemorates 400 years since the first enslaved Africans touched down in Jamestown, Virginia in the United States;
Whereas the Diaspora Affairs, Office of the President (DAOOP), was established in February 2017 under the office at the Presidency with the objective of bringing back Ghanaians in the Diaspora home to contribute directly to the economic development of Ghana; to make the transition and aid the returning Ghanaians in the Diaspora effective, efficient and non-problematic and placing the importance the Government of Ghana (GoG) places on the contributions Ghanaians in the Diaspora make to the economy in Ghana instead of foreigners by providing market access, sources of expertise, knowledge.
Whereas the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) is a Government agency, responsible under the GIPC Act, 2013 (Act 865); to encourage and promote investments in Ghana; to provide for the creation of an attractive incentive framework and a transparent, predictable and facilitating environment for investments in Ghana.
Whereas the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPAs) pact between the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the European Union was the WORSE option for Ghana and other countries in the sub-region
Whereas Ghana is a member of ECOWAS, Ghana benefits from the fact that there are numerous international Economic Partnership Agreements (EPA). Most important one is the ECOWAS-EU EPA, which led to the gradual removal of trade restrictions between the partners. West Africa as Free Trade Area (ETLS)
Whereas all the negative provisions of Ghana’s IEPA with their implications such as revenue loss, attack on domestic industry and domestic value-addition, loss of policy space, constraints on South-South co-operation, the new ECOWAS-EPA contains two fundamentally egregious threats to the economies of Ghana and the region. Not only does it explicitly target the essence of the light manufacturing sector, the acknowledged catalyst for any transition of Ghana’s economy from a small-holder agrarian economy to an industrialised economy;
Whereas Per Section 27 of the GIPC Act 865, “A person who is not a citizen or an enterprise which is not wholly owned by a citizen, shall not invest or participate in the sale of goods or provision of services in a market, petty trading or hawking or selling of goods in a stall at any place.”
Whereas Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA) Petitioned Ghana Parliament over the redrafting of the existing GIPC law, Act 865. “We [GUTA] are petitioning parliament as our representatives, to think of Ghana first and the trading business in the hands of indigenous Ghanaians. As many illegal, migrants and foreigners especially Nigerians, Black Americans invading Ghana and taking over the local retail market – “we look around the country today foreigners are flouting our good laws and are causing the nation a lot of harm than good as compared to indigenous Ghanaians who holds birth rights in the country.”
Whereas the Ministry of Interior Ghana Immigration Service are mandated under the 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana, Immigration Service Act, 1989 (PNDCL 226) now repealed by the passage of Immigration Service Act 2016 (Act 908), the Immigration Act, 2000 (Act 573), Immigration Service Regulation 2001 (L.I 1691), Immigration (Amendment) Act, 2012 (Act 848) the Security and Intelligence Agencies Act 1996 (Act 526) and the Anti-Terrorism (amendment) Act, 2012 Ghana Immigration Service is mandated to regulate and monitor the entry, residence, employment and exit of all foreigners.
Whereas the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) was established by an Act of Parliament, Act 2009 (Act 791) merging the three revenue agencies that is the Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS), the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the Value Added Tax Service (VATS) and the Revenue Agencies Governing Board (RAGB) Secretariat into a single Authority for the administration of taxes and customs duties in the country. The Ghana Revenue Authority is the Ghana administration charged with the task of assessing, collecting and accounting for tax revenue in Ghana. The core mandate of the Authority is to ensure maximum compliance with relevant laws in order to ensure a sustainable revenue stream for government as well as the controlled and safe flow of goods across the county’s borders. Foreigners who start a business in Ghana, must follow the laws and regulations according to Companies Code 1963 (Act 179) and under the Code, investors regardless of foreign or local can establish and register a place of business in Ghana.
Whereas The accumulative influx of foreigners is placing negative environmental, population explosion, amenities constraints, cost and availability of affordable housing for indigenous Ghanaians, land takeover by foreigners in towns and villages. These Uncontrolled immigration is due part in parcel for the corruption, bribery and absence of enforcement by the Ghana Immigration Services. Furthermore, the increase rate of the negative pressure on public services, the labour market and wages and cultural and traditional stability is a national emergency, sovereignty and security matter.
Whereas Ghana welcomes and open up for foreigners and immigrants, Ghana must control legal migration, we have changed the profile of migrants coming here to work and study from outside and the failure of the Year of Return which has not yielded any investment but rather doom of Black Americans and other foreigners coming to |Ghana to take advantage to the detriment of the poor indigenous Ghanaians. Ghana stands to ensure that we are genuinely welcoming the brightest and the best and those coming to invest with a minimum of $500,000 USD.
Whereas the accumulative high criminal activities underscored by economic destabilizing and deadly nature such as juju contract killings, armed robbery vastly being influenced by the influx of foreigners significantly from West African countries
PROBLEM STATEMENT AND CHALLEGES:
Major Issue:
✓ The Year of Return and the Massive migration of African Americans and Blacks from the Diaspora Causing Socio-Economic Dislocation in African countries especially Ghana.
✓ Nigerians represent about 80 per cent of people engaged in illegal retail trade-in Ghana
Issue:
1. Many of these folks coming into Ghana have criminal record and Staying in Ghana on a Visitor’s visa which have expired.
2. Many are working in Ghana without working permit and mostly working online and paying no taxes.
3. None Payment of Taxes from the many illegals doing business in country especially online.
4. No effective immigration enforcement and fines on illegals including deportation
5. Population Explosion in Ghana which is causing negative environmental impact, social, economic and health. Ghana is a small country and there has to be a Plan to control population Explosion and manage numbers of immigrants to Ghana. Ghana cannot afford population explosion and overcrowding and natural and land resources pressures from human explosive capacity
6. Economic dislocation of local native’s jobs like art and crafts, taxi and Uber and farming businesses been taken by these foreigners and many are illegals residence
7. Many are sending monies earned in Ghana back overseas causing currency depreciation
8. Negative impact on lands and housing since many of these illegals are bribing local chiefs for lands and causing high increases in housing market
9. Cultural negative impact from some of these illegal migrants’ folks with criminal backgrounds introducing nuisance behaviours from inner cities of ghettos into Ghana community youths etc.
10. One of the issues is: How is the African countries governments going to prevent migration of thugs and their visas such as drugs, drive by shootings etc. into African countries that will impact the culture especially among Africa youth?
11. Controlling Population Explosion
12. Collecting Taxes from those illegally living in Africa especially those working on internet?
12. Enforcement of Immigration laws and deportation with monetary fines.
13. Chiefs in Central region providing free lands to foreigners when their own people don’t have homes or lands to farm. This should stop by a Parliament passing a law.
REQUESTING IMMEDIATE EMERGENCY ACTION FOR HIS EXCELLENCY NANA DANKWA AKUFO ADDO AND MEMBERS OF REPUBLIC OF GHANA PARLIAMENT
A. Issue an Executive Order and Request Parliament of Ghana to Pass a Public Law for the “Illegals Immigration Bill of 2021” The Bill shall among others include:
I. Prohibit and/or restrict the ECOWAS “free movement provisions thereof”
II. Amend and provide restrictions to the Year of Return and require all Black Americans and all other Blacks from the Diaspora to pay for a Police and Criminal Background Check and Report for their Visas.
III. Require all Black Americans and all other Blacks from the Diaspora who are already living in Ghana under any type of visa or have obtained citizenship to provide Criminal Background Check and Report
IV. Require all seeking residency in Ghana to pay a Wealth Tax which will be their total Assets Domestic and Foreign and instruct GRA to tax 20% per annum
V. Require all those working online or on social media to declare their earners and salaries, business activities and/or pay a flat tax fee of $5,000 USD per annum
VI. Provide a private sector contract to undertake additional Specific Enforcement of Tax and Immigration (Search, Capture, Monetary Fine and Deportation)
VII. Warrant that Any Person or Public Official that illegally collect bribes from foreigners and provide illegal passports, visa among others to harbour or shield foreigners in Ghana shall be fine $250,000 USD or imprisonment for 25 years with hard labor
VIII. Prohibit all foreigners entering and engaging into certain business such as: Taxis, Uber divers, Farming and Agriculture activities unless the investment is at $1 Million USD and would hire and employ Ghanaians with minimum daily salaries of $4 USD
IX. Institute Immigration Quota System from each country and for Black Americans and all other foreigners. Ghana cannot absorb large numbers of immigrants since we do not have the capacity to provide for the basic infrastructure, amenities and to address population density, overcrowding and depletion of our natural resources and village lands and environment
B. Require criminal backgrounds investigation of those who seek working permits and in many cases request a criminal record before visa is issued. Cost by paid by applicants
C. For those who buy lands and want to live in Ghana a mandate of proof that individual has no less than $250,000.00 USD in a Ghanaian bank and cannot be transferred
D. All person on visitor visa are not allow to do any business in Ghana physically or via cyber. All internet cyber business must register business and pay taxes. Violators will face $25,000.00 USD fine or imprisonments for 5 years
E. “We the Greater Accra Regional Branch of GUTA cannot tolerate any individual interest to put the greater number of traders unemployed and have their businesses collapse when such changes to the GIPC Law Act 865 section (27) will enshrine the protection of a Ghanaian trader.”
F. Ministry of Tourism to provides a policy jointly with GIPC to provide special incentives for Ghanaians in the Diaspora who are pursuing tourism business in Ghana. GoG shall provide specific incentives which are not currently under GIPC mandate. Incentives and provisions for Tourism activities shall include Museum and Antiques Artifact Business and shall be given tax abatement and customs duties waiver incentives such as on Antique Cars and Artifacts for the sole purpose of a Museum.