The 12 years old stalled Saglemi Housing Project, is possibly on the brink of revival, as government finalizes negotiations with two shortlisted private developers.
Manasseh Attah Boahene, Spokesperson for the Ministry of Works and Housing, expressed optimism about the ongoing evaluation process.
He emphasized that the independent evaluation entities are meticulously assessing the financial capacity and technical expertise of the two shortlisted companies to ensure the selected developer can efficiently execute the project.
“The beauty of the independent evaluation entity was to access the private companies’ financial capacity and their technical expertise.”
In an interview with ABC IN THE MORNING on Tuesday, Boahene outlined the evaluation framework utilized in selecting the two finalists, Quarm-LMI Consortium and Broll Ghana Ltd., from a pool of five proposals received on July 8, 2024.
He assured Ghanaians that the ministry is committed to preventing further delays, noting, “The beauty of the independent evaluation entity was to access the private companies’ financial capacity and their technical expertise. So that they will be able to bring to bear what they will be able to do.”
During a press briefing in Accra on September 30, 2024, Works and Housing Minister Kojo Oppong Nkrumah announced that the project is anticipated to be handed over within the next 14 days.
This progress follows President Akufo-Addo’s approval of a negotiation framework with the successful bidders.
Initially launched with a budget of $200 million to construct 5,000 affordable housing units, the project faced significant setbacks, with only 1,506 units partially completed before its halt.
Oppong Nkrumah highlighted the urgency of resuming work on the project, indicating that without action, the state’s substantial investment could deteriorate.
To expedite progress, he reiterated the necessity of a Public-Private Partnership model, which will allow the government to leverage private sector resources while ensuring that funds invested by these companies are repaid upon project completion.