John Dramani Mahama, the flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has voiced his strong dissatisfaction with President Nana Akufo-Addo's decision to forsake the Saglemi Housing Project and spend approximately GHc500 million on the project of the National Cathedral.
In a post on Facebook, the ex-president made the allegation that the current administration gave up on the Saglemi Housing Project for no other reason than the fact that it was started under his watch as president.
On Tuesday, August 1, President Akufo-Addo presided over a ceremony to begin building 8,000 units of affordable housing with the assistance of the private sector. The ceremony saw the cutting of the ceremonial sod.
Mahama Blast Akuffo-Addo for Abandoning Saglemi Housing Project
During the event, President Akufo-Addo provided justification for the decision to cancel the Saglemi Housing Project by noting that finishing the project would have resulted in a rise in the country's overall debt.
Former President John Dramani Mahama responded to the explanation provided by the current President by criticizing the administration, stating that it is a “humiliating slap in the face of Ghanaians” that the government is unable to obtain cash for the Saglemi housing project while at the same time donating a considerable amount to the National Cathedral.
He claimed that the government's priorities appear to be in the wrong place because it is prepared to engage in a large civil excavation for the National Cathedral but neglects a housing project that intends to offer cheap dwellings for Ghanaians. The National Cathedral is located in Accra.
“It is unacceptable for Akufo-Addo to spend more than half a billion cedis on a project for a national cathedral that has ultimately failed due to corruption and is now abandoned, yet he refuses to commit funds to complete a housing project that will benefit thousands of Ghanaian families. This is inexcusable.”
“Knowing the NPP government, they did not want to finish the Saglemi housing project for the simple reason that it was started by John Mahama and an NDC administration,” the author writes.
Regardless of who came up with the idea for a particular program or initiative, those in positions of authority have an unwavering obligation to put the welfare of the people under their charge first and foremost.
“The misplaced priorities of a government that claims 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,” writes The Conversation. “The government claims it is unable to raise money to complete the Saglemi housing project and yet is willing to spend the money.”
“Just think about the uncountable number of Ghanaian families who could have had acceptable living conditions over the course of the past seven years and the individuals who could have had a place that they could truly call home in Saglemi.”
