Your Saglemi housing project is a scandal on its own – Ahiagbah replies Mahama
The Director of Communications of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) says he’s baffled at former President John Mahama’s continual criticism of the government over the Saglemi Housing Project.
Richard Ahiagbah said the NDC flagbearer can confidently discuss the abandoned Saglemi housing project because none of the NDC members who oversaw the project are currently incarcerated.
Speaking in an interview on Monday, August 7, Mr Ahiagbah, said all persons involved in the project must be jailed to serve as a deterrent to others.
He insisted that state resources cannot be allowed to be wasted in such a “careless manner.”
“The only reason the NDC and in particular, former president John Mahama can stand anywhere and point to Saglemi as though it is an achievement is that nobody is in jail as we speak because that project is a scandal. One that we should be angry about and charge at the NDC.”
“The whole thing is a scandal on its own because how do you go take a loan of $200 million to construct over 5000 apartments and end up constructing 1500 yet have expended the entire $200 million.”
“The contract that Parliament approved was for 5000 buildings but what we have there is somewhere in the neighbourhood of 1,500 and former president Mahama revised the contract without reference to Parliament.” Mr. Ahiagbah bemoaned.
Background
Former President John Dramani Mahama criticized President Akufo-Addo for abandoning the Saglemi housing project started by his administration.
Mr. Mahama says the President’s decision to abandon the project and yet spend billions of cedis on the controversial National Cathedral is unacceptable.
In a Facebook post on Monday, August 7, the NDC flagbearer said the Akufo-Addo government just decided to abandon the project merely because it was started by his (Mahama’s) administration.
According to him, the Akufo-Addo government prioritized their own parochial interests instead of prioritizing the interests of the ordinary Ghanaian.
“It is unacceptable for Akufo-Addo to spend 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 benefit 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 an NDC administration.”