The Minister for Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, has announced that plans are underway to restore the Saglemi housing project to its initial public use objective.

He argued that the New Patriotic Party’s decision to give the project to private developers undermines its original aim of offering affordable public housing to serve Ghanaians.

In an interview on TV3 on Saturday, January 17, 2026, Mr Kwakye made it known that, the current administration is reassessing that decision to ensure the original vision of the project is protected.

“Yes, it was announced in the dying embers of the previous administration, but it is under review because we believe it is not the best or most ideal situation.”

“It was meant to be public housing, affordable for people within a certain income bracket. They left it to rot for eight years and then, at the last minute, attempted to transfer it into private hands. We are reviewing the arrangement to ensure that the initial objective is achieved,” he stated.

The Saglemi Housing Project, situated in Prampram in the Greater Accra Region, began in 2012 during President John Dramani Mahama’s first term as an initiative to address Ghana’s housing shortage.

The project, however, came to a halt after 2017 when the Akufo-Addo administration took over, leaving the site inactive for almost eight years.

In late 2024, the previous government revealed that a private developer, the Quarm-LMI Consortium, had been chosen to finish the project. The state’s earlier investment was counted as equity, and no additional public funds were to be provided.

The consortium was expected to complete the remaining units by early 2026.

The project was initially meant to provide 5,000 housing units on 300 acres, but only 1,506 units were partially completed before work stopped in 2017, even though around $200 million had already been spent.

Former administration appointees claimed that many of the buildings lacked key infrastructure, such as water, electricity, and sewage systems.

Government officials say a current review will determine the best way to complete the project while protecting public interest.

Earlier last year, Minister of Works, Housing and Water Resources, Kenneth Gilbert Adjei, assured that contractors will soon return to the Saglemi Affordable Housing Project site to continue construction.

During a recent working visit to housing developments at Shai Hills and Ningo Prampram in the Greater Accra Region, Mr. Adjei emphasized that the government is actively engaging key stakeholders to revive the long-stalled project.

“We know of the Saglemi housing project, among other projects, has stalled halfway. When I resumed office, I started engaging with key stakeholders, and very soon, we will move to site, and then work will begin,” he stated.

His tour also included inspections of the National Homeownership Fund Affordable Housing Projects in Shai Hills and Tema Community 22, alongside the Ningo Prampram Coastal Sea Defence Project.

Mr. Adjei highlighted the government’s renewed focus on ensuring that projects are seen through to completion without unnecessary delays or financial losses.

“We will put in plans to ensure that we don’t start projects and end midway, but to ensure that all projects get to their finishing line,” he said.

He also urged contractors to adhere to set timelines to avoid further setbacks.

“Some of the projects are behind schedule, some too are on schedule, and I would advise our contractors that going forward, we don’t want any delays in our projects. If we give timelines, we should stick to the timelines. Those are things I’m going to meet and discuss with the contractors,” he stated.

The minister further reiterated the government’s commitment to safeguarding lives and properties in coastal areas. He assured that ongoing sea defence projects in Axim, Cape Coast, Dansoman, and Dixcove would be expedited, with alternative funding sources being explored to ensure their completion.

Former Minister of Works and Housing, Collins Dauda, along with Dr. Kwaku Agyemang-Mensah (former Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing) and Alhaji Ziblim Yakubu (Chief Director in the Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing), were initially accused of contributing to the mishandling of funds in the $200 million Saglemi Housing project.

Businessman Andrew Clocanas (who passed away) and Nouvi Tetteh Angelo (CEO of Ridge Management Solutions Ghana Limited) were also part of the list of accused individuals. They faced multiple charges related to misusing public funds, which were filed in January 2023.

However, an Accra High Court ruled in favor of Collins Dauda, and three others by discharging them from all charges.

The decision, announced on Tuesday, February 24, 2025, came after state prosecutors informed the court that the Attorney General had decided to withdraw the charges against the defendants.

Dr. Ayine, during a press briefing on February 12, 2025, justified the decision to drop the case by noting that part of the funds were used for the construction of houses, which should have been considered in assessing the charges.

“In other words, the value of that built environment is, in my considered opinion, a key determinant of how much of the total sum was allegedly misapplied by the Honorable Collins Dauda. Discounting the value of the built environment renders those charges, in my considered opinion, defective,” he stated.

Furthermore, Dr. Ayine highlighted that payments made by other ministers, such as the $5 million approved by Atta Akyea in 2017, had not been included in the evaluation of the state’s financial losses.

He questioned why Akyea, who was involved in these payments, was not charged while Dauda had been.

“For instance, Atta Akyea, as Minister of Works and Housing, approved a payment of $5 million in 2017 that ought to have been considered in determining the value of state funds that Collins Dauda had misapplied. But that wasn’t done. And note, ladies and gentlemen of the media, that Atta Akyea was never charged, even though Collins Dauda was,” he pointed out.

In his closing remarks, Dr. Ayine emphasized the importance of clarity in legal charges, asserting that accusations must be precise to ensure fairness in the trial process. He argued that the charges filed in this case did not meet the necessary legal standards to proceed.