Former President John Dramani Mahama is unhappy with the decision of the Akufo-Addo-led government to abandon the Saglemi Housing project and allocate over GHc500 million to the National Cathedral project.
The flagbearer of the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) said in a Facebook post that the government abandoned the Saglemi Housing project mainly because it was launched during his term.
On Tuesday, August 1, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo held a sod-cutting ceremony to begin building 8,000 affordable homes with help from the business sector.
President Akufo-Addo defended the decision to scrap the Saglemi Housing project during the ceremony, arguing that finishing it would have increased the nation’s debt.
Former President Mahama slammed the government in reaction to the President’s explanation, alleging that the government’s inability to obtain funding for the Saglemi housing project while committing large funds to the National Cathedral is a “humiliating slap in the face of Ghanaians.”
Mr. Mahama contended that the government’s objectives appear to be misdirected, as it is willing to engage in a large civil excavation for the National Cathedral while ignoring a housing project aimed at providing cheap accommodation for Ghanaians.
“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.
“Leaders must always prioritise the well-being of their citizens and ensure that they benefit from government resources and projects, regardless of who initiated them.
“The misplaced priorities of a government that claim it is unable to raise money to complete the Saglemi housing project and yet is willing to spend half a billion cedis on the largest civil excavation in Africa is a humiliating slap in the face of Ghanaians who entrusted Akufo Addo with their mandate.
“Just think about the countless number of Ghanaian families who could have had decent living conditions over the past 7 years and the individuals who could have had a place to truly call home in Saglemi.
