Principal State Attorney Hilda Craig informed the court that the prosecution was in court to enter a nolle prosequi in the case filed on February 7.

A nolle prosequi notice was submitted at the High Court (Financial Division 1) in Accra on Friday, February 7, 2025, signaling the State’s decision to discontinue the prosecution of Collins Dauda, Kweku Agyeman-Mensah (former Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing), and Alhaji Ziblim Yakubu (former Chief Director of the Ministry).

The others are Nouvi Tetteh Angelo (CEO of Ridge Management Solutions Ghana Limited) and Andrew Clocanas (deceased, former Executive Chairman of Construtora OAS Ghana Limited).

The notice, signed by the Attorney-General, officially marks the end of the State’s case against the accused persons.

They previously faced 70 charges, including causing financial loss to the state, in connection with the Saglemi Affordable Housing Project but had pleaded not guilty.

Following the Attorney-General’s withdrawal of the charges, the court discharged the accused persons accordingly.

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“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 said.

Mr Adjei was speaking in an interview during a working visit to some housing projects at Shai Hills and Ningo Prampram in the Greater Accra Region last Tuesday.

He toured the National Homeownership Fund Affordable Housing Projects in Shai Hills and Tema Community 22, as well as the Ningo Prampram Coastal Sea Defence Project.

Background

The Saglemi Affordable Housing Project is a facility located on a 300-acre land with one to three-bedroom flats for low-income and middle-income earners, which commenced in 2012 in the first term of President John Dramani Mahama.

The project was expected to provide 5,000 residential units to alleviate accommodation deficits and challenges in the Greater Accra Region. Around $200 million had been expended on the project, with a little above 1,500 housing units partially completed.

It had stalled in 2017, following the change of government in the same year over allegations of embezzlement by former Works and Housing Minister, Samuel Ataa Akyea against the former sector Minister, Collins Dauda, who handed over to him.

The lawsuits which followed the alleged embezzlement against Mr Dauda eight years ago, led by Former Attorney-Generals (A-Gs) Gloria Akufo and Godfred Yeboah Dame, have been discontinued by the current A-G, Dr Dominic Ayine.

Plans

The Minister of Works and Housing said the government would initiate plans to ensure that projects it intended to tackle no longer stalled to cause loss and financial burdens on the state.

“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.

Mr Adjei urged contractors to keep to time schedules for completing projects awarded to them to execute.

“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.

Going forward, the ministry also believes that we shouldn’t have stalled projects. If we start something, we should be able to finish,” he stated.

He added that the government was committed to protecting lives and property in the coastal areas and would, therefore, expedite the processes and look for alternative means of funding ongoing defence projects in the coastal areas such as Axim, Cape Coast, Dansoman and Dixcove.

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The Managing Director, Kofi Adabor Ofori-Amanfo announced this following courtesy call on the Ningo Traditional Council.

Mr Ofori-Amanfo said there was a need for a structural integrity test on the existing buildings to evaluate their stability.

“Tentatively, we are looking at around 400 days to make sure that the whole place is completed for sale to people. Currently, we inherited the shell structures.

“And some of them will go through structural integrity tests to make sure that we are not going to sell back to society, something that might just break within time,” he said.

He announced that re-engineering work will be carried out on certain parts of the structures to ensure it meet high safety and quality standards.

“You know, this development has been left for more than seven years. A lot of them have gone through bad weather conditions.

“Some areas had some flooding that is prone to the environment there. So we need to do a lot of re-engineering over there,” he stated.

The government on Friday, October 18, 2024, announced Quarm-LMI as the preferred developer to complete the Saglemi Housing Project.

The Ministry of Works and Housing had earlier announced that two preferred bidders had been shortlisted for final negotiations among five firms.

However, the statement has noted the selection of Quarm-LMI follows an extensive negotiation process led by a government team.

Other members of the negotiation team included; representatives from the Ministry of Finance, the Office of the Attorney General and Ministry of Justice, and Deloitte, with technical evaluation support from the Ghana Institute of Surveyors.

The statement explained that the redevelopment will be structured through a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), with the government’s current investment in the project being treated as equity.

This ensures that both the government and the developer will recover their investments once the project is completed.

Originally designed to deliver 5,000 affordable housing units, the Saglemi Housing Project received approximately $200 million in government financing.

However, by the time the project was halted, only 1,506 units had been partially completed, with the development deemed uninhabitable due to the absence of essential infrastructure such as water, electricity, and sanitation.

A subsequent valuation conducted by the Ghana Institute of Surveyors estimated that an additional $100 million would be required to complete the 1,506 unfinished units; financing which the government could not provide.

The completion of the Saglemi Housing Project is anticipated to have a significant impact on Ghana’s housing landscape, helping reduce the country’s housing deficit which stands at 1.8 million.

Quarm-LMI Holdings is a consortium consisting of LMI, with interests in industrial park development and real estate, And QUARM with expertise in logistics, Utilities and Finance.

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According to him, the project was initiated by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) under his administration after securing land from the people of Ningo-Prampram through consultation.

He argued that the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) abandoned the project when they assumed office and thus if they have chosen to hand over the project to private entities, it is imperative to involve the original landowners in the decision-making process.

“It was the NDC that started the Saglemi Housing project. We consulted the people of the Ningo-Prampram before we started that project. After we left, this government has abandoned it. Recently, I heard they want to give it to private people.

“But the point I’m making to them is that if you are changing the status of that project, from a government project to a private project, you need to discuss with the allodial owners of the land,” he said.

Mr Mahama further noted that, as of now, the government has yet to hold any consultations with the people of Ningo-Prampram.

“You cannot eliminate that land by handing that project to a private company without the permission and discussion and negotiation with the allodial owners who are the Ningo people. And so when we come, we’re going to review whatever you’re doing there,” he stated.

He emphasised that the housing project belongs to the people of Ghana, and it cannot be transferred to private interests without following the appropriate procedures.

“That is a notice to them,” he cautioned, adding that an NDC-led government would ensure that future agreements involving the project reflect the involvement and interests of the local community.

The former President pledged that a future NDC government would review the current agreement governing the project to ensure the active involvement and participation of the local community.

Background.

The stalled Saglemi Housing Project is on the brink of revival, as the government finalises negotiations with a private developer for its redevelopment.

The Minister for Works and Housing Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, during a press briefing in Accra on Monday, September 30, 2024, announced that work will resume on the stalled  Saglemi Housing project in November this year.

This was disclosed by the Minister for Works and Housing, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah,

This development follows President Akufo-Addo’s approval of a negotiation framework with the successful bidder(s) after a request submitted by Minister Oppong Nkrumah last month.

The Saglemi Housing Project, initiated under the erstwhile NDC administration, initially aimed at delivering 5,000 affordable housing units, saw around $200 million of government funding but was halted after only 1,506 units were partially completed.

The unfinished development was deemed uninhabitable due to the absence of key infrastructure such as water, electricity, and sanitation.

A valuation by the Ghana Institute of Surveyors indicated that an additional $100 million would be required to complete the project—funding the government could not provide.

Minister Oppong Nkrumah explained that cabinet has instructed the Ministry of Works and Housing to explore selling the incomplete project to a private entity to finish and sell the units without further government investment.

Under the approved framework, the current value of work done on the Saglemi project will be treated as government equity, while the private developer’s cost to complete the units will represent their equity in a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) to be established.

Proceeds from the sale of the completed houses will be divided between the government and the private partner based on their equity stakes.

Two companies have been shortlisted for the final phase of negotiations: Quarm-LMI Consortium and Broll Ghana Ltd.

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This was announced in a statement issued by the Ministry of Works and Housing on Friday, October 18, 2024.

The Ministry had earlier announced two preferred bidders had been shortlisted for final negotiations among five firms.

However, the statement has noted the selection of Quarm-LMI follows an extensive negotiation process led by a government team.

Other members of the negotiation team included; representatives from the Ministry of Finance, the Office of the Attorney General and Ministry of Justice, and Deloitte, with technical evaluation support from the Ghana Institute of Surveyors.

The statement explained that the redevelopment will be structured through a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), with the government’s current investment in the project being treated as equity.

This ensures that both the government and the developer will recover their investments once the project is completed.

“As part of the redevelopment, the government and the developer will both recover their investments when the project is completed,” the statement added.

Originally designed to deliver 5,000 affordable housing units, the Saglemi Housing Project received approximately $200 million in government financing.

However, by the time the project was halted, only 1,506 units had been partially completed, with the development deemed uninhabitable due to the absence of essential infrastructure such as water, electricity, and sanitation.

A subsequent valuation conducted by the Ghana Institute of Surveyors estimated that an additional $100 million would be required to complete the 1,506 unfinished units; financing which the government could not provide.

The completion of the Saglemi Housing Project is anticipated to have a significant impact on Ghana’s housing landscape, helping reduce the country’s housing deficit which stands at 1.8 million.

Quarm-LMI Holdings is a consortium consisting of LMI, with interests in industrial park development and real estate, And QUARM with expertise in logistics, Utilities and Finance.

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This comes after weeks of careful evaluation and due diligence conducted by transaction advisors, Deloitte Ghana.

Out of the 10 firms that initially expressed interest in completing the project, only five submitted bids by the close of the bidding process in July 2024.

Following a thorough review, two companies have been selected for the final phase of negotiations, where one will be chosen to partner with the government and complete the housing project.

The Ministry of Works and Housing is expected to finalize the selection based on the most favourable negotiating terms.

According to the Minister for Works and Housing, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, the government is committed to remaining focused and meticulous in this transaction to ensure the successful completion of the project.

Background of the Saglemi Housing Project

The Saglemi Housing Project was initiated with a $200 million contract aimed at constructing 5,000 affordable housing units to alleviate Ghana’s housing deficit.

However, by January 2017, only 1,506 units had been completed or were in various stages of completion, despite $197 million having been paid to contractors.

The project has since been plagued by delays, leaving thousands of units unoccupied and incomplete.

Government’s efforts to restart and complete the project have been met with both anticipation and scrutiny, as the Saglemi project is seen as a critical solution to Ghana’s affordable housing challenges.

The selection of a partner from the two preferred bidders marks a significant milestone in the government’s commitment to seeing the Saglemi Housing Project through to completion, providing much-needed affordable housing to Ghanaians.

Following these negotiations, one of the firms will be selected to carry the project to completion.

Initially, at least 10 firms expressed interest in partnering with the government to finish the uncompleted project. By the close of the bidding process in July 2024, five firms had submitted bids.

The Ministry of Works and Housing is set to choose the firm offering the most favourable negotiating terms after the process.

Housing Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah emphasized that the government will remain focused and meticulous throughout this transaction.

Background

The Saglemi Housing Project began with a $200 million contract to build 5,000 affordable housing units.

However, by January 2017, only 1,506 units had been completed or were in various stages of completion, despite $197 million already being paid to contractors.

Source: Adomonline

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The approval follows a request by the Minister for Works and Housing, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah.

Under the new framework, the value of the work already completed at Saglemi will be treated as the government’s equity in the project, while the cost to complete the remaining work will be considered the equity of the selected partner in a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) to be established for the project’s completion.

Proceeds from the sale of the houses will be shared between the government and the private partner based on their stake in the SPV.

The Saglemi Housing Project, originally intended to deliver 5,000 affordable housing units, received approximately $200 million in government financing.

However, only 1,506 units were partially completed, and the project was halted due to a lack of essential infrastructure such as water, electricity, and sanitation.

A valuation by the Ghana Institute of Surveyors indicated that an additional $100 million would be needed to complete the unfinished units—funding that the government could not provide.

As a result, the Cabinet approved seeking private-sector financing and expertise. A Request for Proposals (RFP) was issued in April 2024.

To ensure transparency, the government appointed Deloitte Ghana as the Transaction Advisor to evaluate bids submitted by Afro-Arab Properties Ltd, Quarm-LMI Consortium, Dredge Masters-Titanium, Broll Ghana Ltd, and Masiltin Group on July 8, 2024.

The Transaction Advisor is expected to present the preferred bidder(s) to the Ministry of Works and Housing by mid-September. Negotiations will then begin to establish terms for creating a Joint Venture.

The SPV formed through this partnership will be responsible for constructing and operationalizing the 1,506 housing units.

The President’s approval of the framework allows negotiations to proceed once the evaluation process is completed and the preferred bidder(s) are announced.

He said the 10 companies had been taken to the project site and that they had had the opportunity to inspect works that had been left there so far.

He noted that the companies were putting together their proposals and that according to the work plans that the Ministry had put together, by the 8th of July, they expect to formally receive all proposals from the companies.

Mr Oppong Nkrumah, who disclosed this at a press conference at Parliament House in Accra, said after the Ministry had taken possession of the bids, they would be handed over to an independent evaluation entity, which would give them an evaluation report and then based on that evaluation report Government would proceed to select one of the bids, which might be a single entity or a consortium of entities.

He said the Ministry had announced a process through which the Government would select a private developer or a consortium of private developers to complete the uncompleted Saglemi Affordable Housing Project and operationalise it.

The Minister recalled that the government initially took a loan of about $200 million to build five thousand housing units, 1,506 were partially completed and that was what one would often see at Saglemi.

He noted that three major components that were missing – water, electricity and sewage works – and that when the Ghana Institute of Surveyors did their assessment, they said the government needed about a hundred million dollars to complete this 1,506.

He said the Government decided within the difficult financial constraints that it was very difficult to find an extra one hundred million dollars after two hundred million had already been spent.

“So, Cabinet took a decision that we should select a private developer or a consortium of private developers and let them invest in it so that we can operationalise it,” he said.

He said that when that selection was done, they would get the necessary cabinet approval, sign a contract with the selected entity and hand over the Saglemi Affordable Housing Project to this entity to complete and operationalise it; saying “So, that is where we are now.”

Mr Oppong Nkrumah said they were also going through the process of selecting an independent evaluation organization, and that they would be going before PPA to get the one to be selected and then they would do the evaluation and based on that they would make a decision.

He underscored that the Government was going through an open transparent process to get a developer to complete the Saglemi Affordable Housing Project

“We are fair in our minds about doing everything and above all in accordance with law, we expect that whoever is putting in a bid is also going to do the same, and then in the end we should be able to stand within the scrutiny of time,” he stated.

“We are committed to every single bid that we are receiving, eventually we will publish every single bid, we will also publish the evaluation report so that you see for yourselves how the various bids were evaluated.”

He said they would publish the decision taken and the final contract; declaring that, “So, everything is being done above board, so, everybody can have confidence that it will stand the test of time.”

The Minister said the Government was making efforts to complete another housing project in Koforidua, which was one of President John Agyekum Kufuor’s Affordable Housing Projects from before 2008, which was still out there.

He said the State Housing Company, based on the instructions the Government gave, was also going through a process of rewarding contract for that project to be completed, so they could complete it too.

He reiterated that the government wants to see to it, that work on the outstanding Affordable Housing Project of President Kufuor in Koforidua was completed.

Mr. Oppong Nkrumah said the TDC Company had done over a thousand housing units between 2020 and now, and that they were just about to break ground for another housing project of about 800 housing units.

This crucial step comes on the heels of the Ministry of Works and Housing’s announcement of an open call for proposals last month, aiming to solicit private sector involvement in the completion of the long-stalled project.

Since the announcement, the Ministry has witnessed an influx of interest from various construction firms eager to participate in the redevelopment efforts.

The visit of these seven developers, four foreign and three local marks a pivotal moment in the project’s timeline, as it signifies the commencement of on-site inspections crucial for formulating competitive bids.

With the deadline for proposal submissions set for July 8, the developers wasted no time in acquainting themselves with the intricacies of the Saglemi site.

Guided by representatives from the Ministry and previous consultants on the project, the developers embarked on a thorough exploration of the site, gaining valuable insights into the project’s scope, challenges, and potential opportunities.

Sources at the Ministry said in a bid to ensure transparency and impartiality in the selection process, the Ministry has contracted an independent evaluation entity.

This entity will be tasked with evaluating the proposals and submitting a comprehensive report that will aid in the selection of the most suitable developer for the project.

This is part of the Ministry’s commitment to fostering a fair and rigorous evaluation process that prioritises merit and quality.

Further, the Ministry has taken proactive steps to uphold transparency throughout the entire transaction process.

A transparency policy has been published, outlining the Ministry’s commitment to disclosing all relevant documents and information in accordance with the proactive disclosure clauses under the Right to Information (RTI) Act.

This policy extends to the publication of bids, evaluation reports, and the final conclusion of the selection process, ensuring that stakeholders have access to critical information every step of the way.

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Kojo Oppong Nkrumah reiterated the government’s dedication to finalising the project before the December elections, acknowledging the urgency to address the housing needs of the people.

In an interview on the Citi Breakfast Show on Citi FM, Oppong Nkrumah emphasised the need for swift action, indicating that a private investor would be brought on board to expedite the project’s completion.

During an inspection visit to the project site, the Minister disclosed that a technical team had been assigned to issue an international expression of interest to identify an investor for the project.

This move follows allegations from Vincent Oppong Asamoah, the Ranking Member of the Works and Housing Committee, suggesting that the government plans to hand over the project to its associates and allies.

In response to these accusations, Oppong Nkrumah emphasised the government’s dissatisfaction with the project’s delay and its determination to find a resolution.

He stated that transparency would be upheld throughout the selection process, and the list of bidders would be made public to ensure accountability and fairness.

“We are open to suggestions and welcome any input from the ranking member. Our priority is to move forward with the project efficiently and effectively,” he affirmed.

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In a yet-to-be-aired interview with KSM, he pledged to complete the houses as soon as possible for the populace to enjoy its benefits.

According to him, shelter is a fundamental human right, thus, cannot remain unconcerned when the buildings constructed under the Saglemi Housing Project remain unused.

He believed that houses are not merely structures but vital spaces that provide shelter, comfort, and security.

“I urge the government to sell the Saglemi housing project to me, so we can transform these unfinished houses into comfortable homes for our fellow Ghanaians,” he said.

The Chairman of the Afro-Arab Group of Companies further revealed the emotional impact the current state of the Saglemi Housing Project has on him.

He said, “Each time I see the unfinished houses, my heartaches.”

He noted that, the urgent need for quality housing solutions, particularly, after many were displaced due to the flooding incident caused by the spillage of the Akosombo Dam, has driven him to take action.

He, therefore, sees an opportunity to revitalise the Saglemi housing project, providing affordable and quality homes for Ghanaians.

Meanwhile, the contractor who executed the project, Andrew Clocanas, is facing trial for allegedly causing financial loss to the state over the botched project.

Other accused persons are Dr Kwaku Agyeman-Mensah, a former Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing, Alhaji Ziblim Yakubu, Executive Chairman of Construtora OAS Ghana Limited (4th accused) and Nouvi Tetteh Angelo, CEO, and owner of Ridge Management Solutions Ghana Limited, (5th accused).

They are standing trial over the Saglemi Affordable Housing Project, and have been slapped with 70 charges.

They are said to have willfully caused financial loss to the state over the $200 million sum approved for the project. 

They have all pleaded not guilty and have been granted bail. 

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Reports say his remains was found in his washroom beneath a shower on Saturday, October 21. The lifeless body has since been deposited at the Lashibi Funeral Home.

Meanwhile, the Ghana Police Service has commenced investigations into his death and has thus visited his apartment to interrogate some persons.

Clocanas and others are facing trial for their involvement in an alleged financial loss to the state.

Other accused persons are Dr. Kwaku Agyeman-Mensah, also a former Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing, Alhaji Ziblim Yakubu, Executive Chairman of Construtora OAS Ghana Limited (4th Accused) and Nouvi Tetteh Angelo, Chief Executive Officer and owner of Ridge Management Solutions Ghana Limited, (5th Accused).

They are standing trial over the Saglemi Affordable Housing Project and are facing 70 charges.

They are said to have willfully caused financial loss to the state of over $200m approved for the project. 

They have all pleaded not guilty and have been granted bail. 

Earlier, prosecutors told the court that they would call five witnesses to testify in the case, where the evidence-in-chief from the witnesses, coupled with cross-examination from the defence was estimated to last for 1,952 hours. 

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The Minister firmly denied any claims that the government had abandoned the project.
 
Instead, Mr Asenso-Boakye clarified that the government remains fully committed to completing the Saglemi project.

He emphasised that both the President and himself had reiterated this commitment during the launch of a new housing project at Pokuase. The government is actively taking necessary steps to ensure the revival and completion of the Project.
 
To address the challenges faced by the Saglemi project, the Minister revealed that the government is considering involving the private sector in its implementation.

This decision was made after careful consideration and extensive consultations, with Cabinet convening three times to review the project’s complexities and its financial challenges. The conclusion reached was that private sector participation would offer the most viable approach to ensure the project’s successful completion.
 
Mr Asenso-Boakye further elaborated on the financial analysis conducted by the government. Despite an initial investment of nearly US$200 million, the Saglemi project still requires substantial additional funding.

Approximately US$46 million is needed for off-site infrastructure development, covering essential amenities such as water, electricity, drainage works, among others.

Moreover, an additional US$68 million is required to complete on-site works, which include the repair and completion of the existing units, sewerage system, civic amenities, among others. This brings the total additional costs to a staggering US$114 million, on top of the funds already spent.

Drawing inspiration from successful models in other African countries, the government aims to work alongside private sector entities in constructing houses for citizens. This approach not only ensures cost-effectiveness but also capitalizes on the expertise and experience of private sector partners.
 
In light of the ongoing court case surrounding the project, the Minister disclosed that he had taken proactive steps to continue the Saglemi project.

He had sought approval from the Attorney General’s office, which was granted, allowing the government to proceed with the necessary actions to ensure the project’s eventual completion. This demonstrated the administration’s unwavering dedication to delivering on its promise reviving the Saglemi housing project.
 
Regarding the decision to initiate a new housing project in Pokuase, he clarified that it is part of a fresh strategy involving collaboration with the private sector for housing development.  

“Since becoming Minister, we have studied the approach adopted by many other African countries, including South Africa, Morocco, Côte d’Ivoire, Kenya, among others, where the government collaborates with the private sector in developing houses for the citizens. This not only saves the government a significant amount of financial stress but also allows us to benefit from the expertise and experience of the private sector,” he said on Accra-based Okay FM.
 
In his concluding remarks, the Minister passionately called on all politicians to rise above partisan interests and focus on the national interest, while providing affordable and habitable housing for the citizens of Ghana.

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Speaking on Adom TV’s Badwam Show, he explained that government will hand over the project to a private estate developer.

“Government has not abandoned the Saglemi Housing Project. Only 600 units out of 5,000 units of uncompleted rooms from the $200M borrowed have been done. Government needs an additional US$310M to fully complete the Saglemi Project. Government has decided to hand the project over to private estate developers instead.”

He noted the Pokuase Housing project is feasible because the project’s completion does not solely depend on government.

In November, 2022, the Minister for Works and Housing disclosed that the government has decided to sell the controversial Saglemi Housing Project. 

The project, which was commenced under the Mahama administration, was stalled due to a decision by the Akufo-Addo administration to probe the financial arrangements surrounding it.

The former Minister for Works and Housing, Samuel Atta-Akyea, invited the Attorney General to scrutinize the agreements in October 2018.

There were reports that key contract documents were missing or had inconsistencies.

The government feels there appears to have been a misappropriation of funds in the project, resulting in shoddy work.

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo yesterday cut the sod for the construction of the Pokuase Housing project, the first initiative under the government’s new National Affordable Housing Programme (NAHP).

Through a strategic partnership with the private sector, the Pokuase project aims at providing 8,000 housing units to cater for the housing needs of Ghanaians, especially low-to-medium income earners.

By leveraging the expertise and efficiency of the private sector, the project would significantly reduce the financial burden on the government while ensuring high-quality and cost-effective housing solutions for Ghanaians.

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The evidence in chief from witnesses, coupled with cross-examination from the defence was estimated to last for 1,952 hours. 

Justice Ernest Owusu Dapaah, a Justice of the Court of Appeal sitting as an additional High Court judge, made this known following the conclusion of Case Management Conference (CMC) and Case completion plan. 

The Court has fixed July 10, 2023, to commence the trial. It has selected Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday to hear the trial. 

Other accused persons are Dr Kwaku Agyeman-Mensah, also a former Ministers of Water Resources, Works and Housing, Alhaji Ziblim Yakubu, a former Chief Director, Mr Andrew Clocanas, Executive Chairman of Construtora OAS Ghana Limited (4th Accused) and Nouvi Tetteh Angelo, Chief Executive Officer, and owner of Ridge Management Solutions Ghana Limited, (5th Accused).

They are standing trial over the Saglemi Affordable Housing Project and are facing 70 charges. 

They have all pleaded not guilty and have been granted bail. 

They are said to have willfully caused financial loss to the state of over the $200M sum approved for the project. 

Madam Hilda Craig, the Principal State Attorney informed the Court that the first witness would tender in evidence 113 documents on behalf of the prosecution. 

Rev. Osei, whose evidence-in-chief is expected to last for an hour-and-half, would be subjected to cross-examination by defence counsel estimated at over 720 hours. 

Mr Eric Amankwah Junior, an Officer of the Ministry of Finance, would be the Second Prosecution witness and is expected to tender in evidence 31 documents. The prosecution would need an hour and half. 

The Defence told the Court that they would need over 50 hours to cross-examination the witnesses. 

Other prosecution witnesses are Ms. Lucy Tetteh Akuetteh from Bank of Ghana, who is expected to tender in evidence six documents, and would be cross examined for an estimated 45 hours. 

Meanwhile, Kofi Ohene Oyirebi, the fourth prosecution witness, is estimated to use an hour and would tender a report. 

He will also face an estimated 87 hours of Cross-examination from the Defence lawyers. 

Deputy Superintendent of Police Charles Nyarko, the investigator in the case, will testify for hours and would be subjected to cross-examination for about 170 hours. 

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The prosecution, led by a Senior State Attorney, Hilda Craig, prayed the court, presided over by Justice Elfreda Amy Dankyi, to adjourn the case to enable the prosecution to determine its next line of action.

Not guilty

Alhaji Yakubu is standing trial with a former Minister of Works and Housing, Alhaji Collins Dauda, his successor, Dr Kwaku Agyeman-Mensah; the Executive Chairman of Construtora OAS, the Brazilian company which constructed the affordable housing project at Saglemi, Andrew Clocanas, and a director of RMS, the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) consultancy subcontractor, Nouvi Tetteh Angelo, have been charged with 52 counts of causing financial loss of $200m to the state over the housing project.

They have pleaded not guilty to the charges against them and were admitted to bail in various sums under various conditions.

The charges include wilfully causing financial loss to the state, misapplying public property, issuing false certificates and dishonestly causing loss to public property.

Dauda is currently on self-recognisance bail.

Agyeman-Mensah and Alhaji Yakubu are on a bail of $65 million each with three sureties.

Clocanas is on a bail in the sum of $179 million with three sureties while Angelo is on $13 million bail with three sureties.

The facts, as presented by the Attorney-General (A-G), Godfred Yeboah Dame, were that in August 2012, the then President, John Dramani Mahama, granted Executive approval to the Ministry of Housing for the construction of 5,000 affordable housing units, to be known as the Saglemi Affordable Housing Project.

The housing units, to be executed by Construtora OAS Ltd, were to be sold to workers through mortgage arrangements provided by the then Ghana Home Loans Company.

Mr Dame said the project was funded by Credit Suisse following parliamentary approval.

Review

Mr Dame said on February 27, 2014, Dauda, without parliamentary approval, reviewed the EPC agreement and signed both the original and the revised (restated) agreement with Construtora OAS, represented by Clocanas.

The revision allegedly changed the scope of works and the application of the $200 million approved by Parliament, the A-G said.

Disbursement

Credit Suisse, he said, disbursed the $198 million ($200 million less fees and transaction expenses) into the Escrow Account and the 40 per cent advanced payment to Construtora OAS was effected on February 27, 2013.

He said the contractor failed to apply the amount towards the intended purpose.

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On December 21, 2016, he said, Yakubu again reviewed the original and revised (restated) agreement and signed them (second and his revised or restated), without recourse to Parliament.

That led to a further reduction in the scope of works to 1,412 housing units at a revised price of $181 million and extended the completion period to July 31, 2017, the A-G alleged.

Payment for no work

The prosecution further alleged that a series of payments were made to the contractor and sub-contractors for no work done.

To Vincent Oppong Asamoah, the NPP government can never be transparent and so there was no way they could sell the project to a private developer.

He wondered why the government in taking loans to undertake specific projects has failed to consider the Saglemi Housing project and have it fixed instead of selling it.

“Government is taking loans to do specific projects and so they should look for money and complete the project. We know government has money and can use it to fix it. They are only throwing dust into our eyes saying they are going to sell the project.

“They are deliberately destroying it and then making people think that they are making it look like they are selling it, but trust me; this government will own everything secretly. They can never be transparent,” he told Adom FM’s morning show Dwaso Nsem Wednesday.

The Saglemi Housing Project has been at the centre of controversy since the ruling government discovered that there were missing key contract documents and those available had various inconsistencies.

In the latest development, the government has decided to sell the Housing project to a private developer.

The Minister for Works and Housing, Francis Asenso-Boakye, says the decision was taken after assessment and the necessary consultations.

But Mr Oppong Asamoah has called for an independent inquiry into the raiding of the Saglemi Housing Project by unknown persons.

According to him, it is unheard of that the site, which is supposedly under the care of the police, could have been looted so thoroughly without the police arresting any culprit.

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The Secretary-General for the National Tenants’ Union of Ghana, Frederick Opoku, has alleged that the NPP government’s decision to sell the Saglemi housing project is for personal gain.

The Works and Housing Minister, Francis Asenso-Boakye, stated at a press conference on Sunday that the project currently covers 1,506 housing units, but an amount of about US$46 million is needed to provide water, electricity, and storm drains.

According to the Minister, the units built by the NDC government in 2012 were inhabitable, hence the reason for selling the project to a private sector developer.

In an interview with KMJ on Prime Morning, Mr Frederick Opoku asserted that selling of a project that was built in the interest of Ghanaians without developing it is a sign of neglect, saying that housing is of major interest to citizens.

Furthermore, he stated that the NPP government has failed to implement policies that will help improve the housing sector, leaving them not in a position to sell the project.

“Those NPP parliamentarians who are part of the select committee and are on the majority side have failed people. Because it’s a government process, they don’t look at the people. It is not about NPP or NDC.

“If it’s about housing, it’s about the people, and these MPs who sit on the majority side of government must understand that the NDC’s position now is not about their self-interest,” he said on Wednesday.

He added that the “government should find ways and means to secure US$46 million. I heard the ranking member say that the government is seeking about US$500 million to invest in something. Does that mean that the houses in Saglemi are not in order? So it means that it’s for their personal gains.”

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He is of the opinion that the government could have used other alternatives, such as the State Housing Corporation and the Tema Development Corporation, rather than selling someone else’s initiative.

He believes the decision is a setback as the country is in serious economic hardship and people are suffering to get places to sleep.

He says it is unconstitutional for government to consider selling the project to private investors since Parliament approved its financing with the notion that it was to create cheap housing for Ghanaians.

“Parliament approved the loan for purposes of building affordable housing for the people. We didn’t approve a loan to build housing estates and sell to private developers.”

Mr Dafeamekpor argued that because the project’s objective had changed since being approved by the legislature, government’s new consideration regarding the project must be presented to Parliament.

“If the original purpose of the project has changed, they must come back to parliament. And the transaction must be subject to parliament’s approval.”

“But any private developer who is thinking of acquiring Saglemi must think twice,” he warned.

He further asserted that should his party come to power, his threat would be executed, adding that the NDC will take over the project since the contractual agreement was to build affordable housing for the citizens.

He debunked the possibility of this action incurring a judgment debt, saying “if Saglemi is a subject of criminal prosecution, why must you sell something that is a subject of criminal prosecution?”

On Sunday, November 13, the Minister for Works and Housing, Francis Asenso Boakye, announced that government was considering selling the Saglemi Housing Project to a private firm.

He claimed that the administration could not disregard public calls for the project to be finished.

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Thus, the government actively included Cabinet, the Ministry of Finance (MoF), the Office of the Attorney General, and the Ministry of Justice.

Mr Boakye informed the citizens that earnings from the sale will go to the state and be put toward new initiatives for affordable housing.

Mr Francis Asenso-Boakye says the project will be sold to a private sector entity. 

According to him, the decision was taken after assessment and the necessary consultations. 

Speaking at a press conference on Sunday, Mr Asenso-Boakye said the project currently covers 1,506 housing units. 

“After a painstaking period of assessment, verification and consultations, Government has decided to – Explore the possibility of selling the Saglemi Housing Project, covering the 1,506 housing units, at the current value to a private sector entity to complete and sell the housing units to the public, at no further cost to the State,” he said. 

He, however, revealed that the proceeds will be reinvested into the sector. 

“The proceeds from this sale will come to the State and be reinvested into other affordable housing projects,” he added. 

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Meanwhile, a Technical Working Team has been commissioned to over the processes, the Minister added. 

“In furtherance of the above, and to facilitate the processes, a Technical Working Team has been set-up, comprising professionals and experts to oversee and spearhead all engagements required for the completion of the project. 

This is being done with the goal of ensuring transparency and accountability while guaranteeing value for money in the completion of the project.”

About the project 

The project, which was commenced under the Mahama administration was stalled due to a decision by the Akufo-Addo administration to probe the financial arrangements surrounding it.

The former Minister for Works and Housing, Samuel Atta-Akyea, invited the Attorney General to scrutinize the agreements in October 2018.

There were reports that key contract documents were missing or had inconsistencies.

The government feels there appears to have been a misappropriation of funds in the project, resulting in shoddy work.

Currently, two of former President Mahama appointees, together with a former Chief Director of the Water Resources, Works and Housing Ministry, Alhaji Ziblim Yakubu, Executive Chairman of Construtora OAS Ghana Limited, Andrew Clocanas, and Majority Shareholder of Ridge Management Solutions DWC-LLC, Nouvi Tetteh Angelo have been charged for causing financial loss to the state. 

The five accused persons are collectively facing 52 counts of criminal offences, including willfully causing financial loss to the State, and intentionally misapplying public property.

This was to be used for the construction of some housing units.

Then Minister for Finance, Dr Kwabena Duffour had asked for approval of the credit agreement between Ghana and Credit Suisse International.

His request was to satisfy the constitutional requirement under Article 181 of Ghana’s constitution.

The provision empowers the legislative arm to authorize Government to enter into a loan agreement, as well as approving same.

James Klutse Avedzi, then Chairman of the Finance Committee took the floor to present a report. Parliament had tasked a joint committee comprising the Works and Housing Committee and Finance to look into the agreement.

Mr Avedzi first asked Parliament to set aside its rule requiring that no motion shall be debated until at least forty-eight hours have elapsed between the date on which notice is given and the date on which the motion is moved.

This request was seconded by then MP for Old Tafo, Dr Anthony Akoto Osei and approved by the House.

Mr Avedzi urged the House to also approve the agreement arguing that it was in the interest of the nation.

“The Committee finds that the project would be of immense socio-economic benefits to the public servants of Ghana as well as provide employment to the teeming youth,” he stated.

The Agreement

Under the terms of the credit facility, Ghana was to receive an amount of $200 million. The country was also to get a grace period of two years and repayment period of five years at a 12.5 per cent interest rate per annum on the cedi equivalent of the USD loan amount based on USD:GH¢ exchange rate fixed at drawdown.

The Joint Parliamentary Committee said this rate was far lower than Treasury bill rate at the time. The project was touted as key to fixing Ghana’s housing deficit which stood at 1.7 million at the time.

The funds to be approved was to be utilised by Construtora OAS Limited to construct 5,000 housing units in 18 months.

The Committee said it had carried out due diligence and found that the company had built over 41,000 housing units across Brazil.

The completed houses were to be sold via mortgages to be offered by Ghana Home Loans. This comprised of 2-bedroom and 3-bedroom flats costing $29,000 and $57,000 respectively.

This cost, the Committee told the House did not cover financing cost and cost of land and infrastructure. The Committee argued that it made business sense since the total debt to be serviced was estimated to be $249.6 million while total sale proceeds of the housing units will bring in $257.27 million, with a profit of $1.8million.

Mr Avedzi told the House, the project intends to utilize the Insulated Concrete Forms (ICF) technology.

 “A construction technology system which consists of strong yet lightweight, interlocking forms made from fire retardant expanded polystyrene (EPS). Once the forms are constructed, the structure is filled with a self-compacting concrete to form a high performance monolithic concrete wall with steel reinforcement.

“Building with ICFs dramatically reduces the time and cost of construction and offers huge advantages in energy saving, fire safety, thermal efficiency and acoustic performance –– And is also found to be the greener, more sustainable choice”, he explained.

He assured that the Committee expects the project to be completed in 2 years after the commencement of work.

He then urged the House to approve the agreement.

Again, MP for Old Tafo on the ticket of the NPP, Dr. Anthony Akoto Osei seconded the motion.

He told the House that, “…the opportunity to be able to pay the interest in cedi terms at 12 per cent is a bit novel, in the sense that if we go and borrow now commercially, we would not get anything less than twenty-something per cent.

“….I have no real problem with this particular project. Aside the financing terms, I believe the team headed by Hon Edem Asimah and other Hon Members has at least, convinced those of us who are not technical people in housing that the technology is very good. That is the basis upon which this Committee has come up with this Report.”

Opposition

Member of Parliament for New Juaben North (on the ticket of NPP), Hackman Owusu-Agyemang was the first to raise concerns about the agreement.

He insisted that the project will not deliver affordable housing as his analysis showed that the $29,000 and $57,000 cost announced by the committee was expensive.

“Mr Speaker, I cannot for the life of me, with the experience and what I know about these things, see how this project can be proposed,“ he said.

He added that “Mr Speaker, I do not think there has been due diligence as far as value for money is concerned. I would want the Honourable Minister to come again to convince this House that this is indeed, the cost and that this, at the end of the day, is beneficial to Ghanaians.”

“I would want to suggest that they must go and do due diligence on this. Approving this and offtaking it on the people of Ghana would not be a good proposal, neither will it be in the interest of the economy generally, because at the end of the day, this panel thing, gives up very easily.”

Then Minority Leader, Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu took the floor next.  He agreed with the points canvassed by his colleague.

Despite admitting that the nation needed to deal with the housing deficit, he passed this verdict on what had been laid for approval.

“Mr Speaker, let me rest my case, but it is not tidy; this agreement is not tidy at all.”

MP for Sekondi, Papa Owusu-Ankomah was the next Minority MP to speak.

“So I asked myself, why do we go in for an untried, untested and unproven technology at such a large- scale? This is because we need housing and we must start from somewhere. So we are not starting with 10 –– we are not starting with 100, we are starting with 5,000 –– USD200 million.

“Mr Speaker, sometimes in taking some of these decisions, the weight of that decision must really influence us. If we were using our own private resources to do this, would we be prepared to do that? So if we have USD200 million and we can even get conventional homes for half the number, would that not be better, would that not be a better risk for us, rather than basing our decision on a technology that is only known in Ghana and has been in existence for seven years?”

He was interrupted by E.T Mensah, then Minister for Works and Housing.

He clarified that the houses were not being built at a go but rather over a period of time.

Mr. Ankomah resumed his speech but was interrupted yet again by Dr. Anthony Akoto Osei. Dr. Osei pointed out that Ghana was not opting for a technology that had not been tested.

Mr. Ankomah resumed his speech and described his colleague’s intervention as not adding anything contrary to the point he had made.https://www.youtube.com/embed/eMQmHBJAzrY

NDC MP for Yapei/Kusawgu, Alhaji Seidu Amadu took the floor and insisted that the proposed technology was good for the country.

`The question on whether the agreement should be approved by the House was asked and the agreement got an approval.

When the Majority Leader, Cletus Avoka signaled for another item to be taken, the First Deputy Speaker, Ebo Barton Oduro had this to say, “Honourable Majority Leader, I said I do not want any controversial motion”.

Current status of the project

Per documents filed by the Attorney General’s Office in the case against former Government/Public Officials and two businessmen, only 668 housing units out of the proposed 5,000 have been completed.

The AG says these houses are not habitable.

The AG adds that despite spending a total of $196 million on the project, the work at site is only worth $64million.

Meanwhile, the state is yet to repay the $200 million credit facility secured nearly a decade ago.

Collins Dauda, who was Mr Mensah’s successor, together with three others, have been charged with causing financial loss to the state in the controversial deal.

Mr Dauda, who supervised the initiative at the time it was approved by Parliament, has also been charged with intentionally misapplying public property.

But reacting to the charges, Mr Gyamfi said Mr Dauda did nothing wrong, adding that some of the things he has been blamed for were put in place by Mensah.

To him, the prosecution of Mr Dauda is an attempt by the Akufo-Addo-led government to detract from its inability to complete the project started by the erstwhile Mahama government and goes beyond the alleged financial loss.

Reacting to the comments on Accra-based Metro TV, the Council of State member stated the claims were untrue and do not reflect the reality.

According to him, the plan was to construct 5,000 housing units in just one phase and not the varied phases as purported.

He further denied claims that the project designs were varied after the technical committee noticed that the initial designs were not fit for the Ghanaian context.

“The plan was 5,000 houses, first phase. It is a lie (it wasn’t going to be built in four phases(. I was not involved in any phasing system. We knew that we wanted to build, that is 5,000 houses to be built for workers, and it was approved.

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“Executive approval was given and parliament approved it, so if anything at all, If I wanted to change something, I had to go through the same process again,” he told Paul Adom Otchere on Good Evening Ghana.

Sammy Gyamfi sees the development as an attempt by the Akufo-Addo-led government to detract from its inability to complete the project started by the erstwhile Mahama government.

“The case against Collins Dauda and others is frivolous and a poor attempt by the vindictive Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government to create a convenient excuse for their abandonment of the Saglemi Housing project,” he said.

Former Works and Housing Minister, Collins Dauda, has seen charges pressed against him by the Attorney-General for allegedly causing financial loss to the state in the deal.

Mr Dauda, who supervised the initiative at the time it was approved by Parliament, has also been charged with intentionally misapplying public property.

In the particulars of offences, he is said to have intentionally misapplied $200 million, “by causing the said amount, which had been approved by the Parliament of Ghana for the construction of 5,000 housing units, to be applied towards the payment of 1,412 housing units under the Saglemi Affordable Housing Project.”

Mr Gyamfi disagrees with this assertion saying that there was no point at which the Ministry changed the target of 5,000 housing units.

At no point was the objective of building 5,000 houses approved by Parliament changed or varied, save that, same was supposed to be delivered in Phases. And this was going to be delivered with the approved amount of $200 million only and nothing more.

According to the NDC spokesperson, Mr Dauda “only amended and restated the Works Agreement in line with the same provisions and reduced the number of Phases from four to three to shorten the project duration.”

He insisted that this singular act by Samuel Atta Akyea, the former Works and Housing Minister without Parliamentary approval, is a crime, then his head must also roll.

“It is worthy of note, that the Akufo-Addo government under the leadership of Samuel Atta Akyea, as Minister for Works and Housing, amended and restated the Works Agreement and effected payments of over $5.6 million to the contractor for the project. Yet, neither Atta Akyea nor his Chief Director has been charged for any wrongdoing by this government,” Mr Gyamfi said.

He explained that “the decision that the 5,000 housing units should be built in Phases was provided for in the Works Agreement which was executed by E.T. Mensah.”

“What Parliament had to approve was the terms of the loan agreement as required under Article 181 (1) of the Constitution which they did and not the Works Agreement. In any case, the Works Agreement was amended and restated by the Akufo-Addo government without Parliamentary approval.

“And so assuming the lack of Parliamentary approval for the Works Agreement or a variation of same constitutes a crime, then why hasn’t Atta Akyea or his Chief Director been charged? Why this obscene selective application of the law?”

This is over his alleged role in the controversial Saglemi Housing project which government officials have since 2017 described its cost as inflated.

Another politician, who had also served as Minister for the same sector during the National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration, Kwaku Agyemang Mensah, is charged alongside Mr Dauda and three others.

The others are Ziblim Yakubu, a former Chief Director at the Ministry, Andrew Clocanas, the Executive Chairman of Construtora OAS Ghana Limited, and one Novi Tetteh Angelo.

Government had earlier claimed an audit report submitted by the Ghana Institution of Surveyors on the Saglemi Housing project it had revealed that over $114 million had allegedly been embezzled by the NDC administration.

According to then Minister Samuel Atta-Akyea, the Criminal Investigations Department of the police has interrogated his predecessor and other Ministers in the Mahama era for allegedly ‘inflating’ 1,500 units of Saglemi Affordable Housing Projects.

This, he said, was a clear indication that the NDC cannot be entrusted with Ghana’s housing sector should they be voted back to power.

“The Ghana Institute of Surveyors has come out with a report showing that what is on the ground, measured against the money received will bring out a very very huge figure of about $114 million,” he said.

Reading from a report signed by the President of the Ghana Institute of Surveyors, Dr John Amaglo, he said: “It is stated in black and white that the amount paid to the contractor is $179,904,752.5.”

It is stated clearly that “the total work on the ground is $64 million, the difference is what gives you the $114 million I’m talking about.”

The 2,172 acres on which the Saglemi Housing project is situated was procured in 2002 during the era of President John Agyekum Kufuor.

On August 15, 2012, the late President John Evans Atta Mills gave executive approval to the Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing to implement the project.

The project involved the construction of 5,000 housing units for sale to members of the public through mortgage provided by Ghana Home Loans.

The project was implemented by Constrastora OAS Ghana Limited through a buyer’s credit of up to $200 million.

Charges levelled against the five include intentionally misapplying public property.