Former President, John Dramani Mahama, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) flagbearer, has strongly criticized President Nana Akufo-Addo’s decision to abandon the Saglemi Housing Project and allocate over GHc500 million to the National Cathedral project.
Mahama alleged that the government’s abandonment of the Saglemi Housing Project was solely due to its initiation during his administration.
President Akufo-Addo had recently launched a new housing project with private sector support, justifying the abandonment of Saglemi due to potential increased national debt.
In response, Mahama accused the government of misplaced priorities, condemning the allocation of funds to a national cathedral while neglecting a housing project aimed at providing affordable homes for Ghanaians.
He criticized the government’s refusal to complete the Saglemi project, calling it a “humiliating slap in the face of Ghanaians” and suggesting political motives behind the decision.
Mahama emphasized the importance of prioritizing the well-being of citizens and ensuring that government resources benefit the people, regardless of the project’s initiator.
He expressed disappointment in the government’s choices, highlighting the missed opportunity to provide decent living conditions and homes for countless Ghanaian families through the Saglemi Housing Project.
“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.