Saglemi Housing Project requires additional US$32million to complete - Minister

 An additional US$32million has been cited by the Ministry of Works and Housing as requisite to complete the abandoned Saglemi housing project started by the previous government.

The sector Minister, Mr Francis Asenso-Boakye addressing a press briefing on Tuesday, April 27, 2021 in Accra, said the quoted amount was arrived at by the Ghana Institution of Surveyors who coducted a technical audit on the Saglemi Project which was initially estimated to cost US$200million

He said the Ministry also found out that there was a lack of primary infrastructure such as water supply and electricity which had limited the utility of the development.

"The original output target of the Saglemi project of 5,000 units at a total cost of US$200million as stipulated in the financing agreement presented to, and approved by Parliament had surreptitiously, and drastically, reduced to 1,502, of which 1,389 units had been completed without a commensurate reduction in the overall loan financing. Currently, an amount of approximately, US$197million representing 98 percent has been expended on 1,502 units as against the planned 5,000 units," he said as quoted by Graphic.com

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"Although the financing of the project had largely been exhausted, an initial technical audit by the Ministry revealed the lack of primary infrastructure to the Saglemi project site thus limiting the utility of the development. The key primary infrastructure still outstanding include water supply and electricity.

"The Ministry tasked the Ghana Institution of Surveyors to conduct a cost and technical audit of the contract executed by the contractors in the context of the variety of agreements and commitments made by the parties to the project. Upon completion of the audit, the Ghana Institution of Surveyors estimated that an approximate amount of US$32million would be needed to complete the project".