SAGLEMI, Ghana, 20th August: President John Dramani Mahama has revealed the extent of damage caused by looters who invaded the abandoned Saglemi Affordable Housing Project after construction was halted.
According to President Mahama, the prolonged suspension of work on the project allowed criminals to strip several buildings of essential fittings and infrastructure, leaving behind what he described as “empty shells.”
Speaking during an inspection of the project, President Mahama said the Saglemi project was originally initiated under the late President John Evans Atta Mills and continued during his previous administration.
However, he said the change of government subsequently led to legal and investigative processes that brought construction to a halt.
“Unfortunately, when government changed, legal issues arose. The incoming administration decided to investigate the project, and in the meantime, construction came to a halt,” he said.
President Mahama said the suspension created an opportunity for looters to descend on the site.
“The unfortunate consequence was that looters invaded the site. They stole electrical cables, wash basins, bathtubs, fittings, bulbs and even pulled out underground telecommunications cables, leaving behind nothing but empty shells,” he said.
The President said the situation eventually compelled the government to explore a new approach to completing the long-delayed housing project.
Government subsequently decided that the private sector should partner with the state to complete the development, with LMI selected to undertake the responsibility.
President Mahama said he was encouraged by the transformation taking place at the site and expressed confidence that the estate would eventually become a modern residential community capable of housing thousands of Ghanaian families.
“From what you have seen today, this estate is going to become a modern and conducive residential community for thousands of Ghanaian families,” he said.
He commended the Ministry of Works, Housing, and Water Resources and LMI for reviving the project and urged the developer to maintain the current momentum.
The President said the government expected the first 700 units to be ready for commissioning by March 2027, with 1,500 units expected to be completed by December 2027.
He added that once the first phase is completed, work would immediately begin on the remaining 3,500 units to bring the project closer to its original 5,000-unit target.
Story by: Emmanuel Romeo Tetteh(#RomeoWrites✍️)/ Presidential Affairs Correspondent | Ghana 🇬🇭