Govt Sells Saglemi To Developer | General News

Government has introduced its determination to discover the potential for promoting the Saglemi Housing Project, masking the 1,506 housing items, on the present worth, to a personal sector entity to finish and promote at no additional price to the state.

Proceeds from the sale will come to the state and reinvested into government's reasonably priced housing program.

Minister for Works and Housing, Francis Asenso-Boakye, who disclosed this a meet-the-press sequence yesterday in Accra, stated to facilitate the processes, a Technical Working Team, made up of execs and consultants, has been set-up to supervise and spearhead all engagements required for the completion of the undertaking.

This, he famous, was being executed with the purpose of making certain transparency and accountability, whereas guaranteeing worth for cash within the completion of the undertaking.

The Saglemi Affordable Housing Project which was initiated in 2012 for the supply of 5,000 housing items at a complete price of US$200,000,000.00 underneath an Engineering-Procurement-Contracting (EPC) Agreement with Messrs Construtora OAS Ghana Limited noticed its authentic contract amended 3 times, successfully lowering the undertaking scope to 1,506 housing items, regardless of $195,854,969.52, representing 98% of the undertaking funds having been expended.

That however, he stated not one of the 1,506 housing items had been liveable, because the undertaking was at numerous phases of completion and missing primary facilities, akin to water, electrical energy, and different associated facilities.

Meanwhile, a technical evaluation report by the Ghana Institution of Surveyors in September, 2020, valued the overall price of works on website at US$64,982,900.74.

As a part of government's dedication to forestall additional deterioration of the undertaking, Asenso-Boakye stated his outfit has been participating Cabinet, the Ministry of Finance, the Office of the Attorney General and Ministry of Justice on one of the best viable choices to finish the undertaking.

Following a complete evaluation of the undertaking, the sector minister disclosed that government must allocate further financing of roughly US$46 million to supply off-site infrastructure akin to water, electrical energy, and storm drain, with the intention to make the housing items liveable.

“Additionally, there is the need to invest approximately US$68 million to complete the buildings, and other essential on-site infrastructure works,” he added.

Owing to the large discrepancies with the funds expended on the undertaking, Asenso-Boakye disclosed government's intent to not additional sink tax-payers cash in the direction of the completion of the undertaking.

While reiterating the sector ministry's dedication to making sure a strong and sustainable growth of public works and housing infrastructure, the minister known as for better regard for guidelines and governing laws the nation's settlement planning, and growth management, whereas admonishing residents to be extra intentional in managing family strong waste.

Commenting on the assessment of the Rent ACT, 1963 (ACT 220) and the Rent Control Law, 1986 (PNDCL 138), Asenso-Boakye stated Cabinet, after in depth engagements on the draft Rent Bill, 2022, at its final assembly on October 27 , 2022, gave approval for the draft Rent Bill, 2022 and really helpful identical for the consideration of Parliament.

He stated Parliament will quickly start its engagements on the invoice in the direction of its enactment.