President John Mahama has set December 2027 as the target for completing the first 1,500 housing units at the stalled Saglemi Affordable Housing Project.
As part of the timeline, the President said the first 700 units are expected to be completed and commissioned by March 2027, with the remaining units in the first phase to follow before the end of the year.
President Mahama announced the targets during a tour of the Saglemi Housing Project, where redevelopment works are underway following years of delays.
He said the broader development is expected to eventually provide 5,000 housing units, with the first 1,500 forming the initial phase before work begins on the remaining 3,500 units.
“The first phase which was the 1,500… I’m sure that by December next year that first phase of 1,500 would have been delivered and then work would have started on the extra 3,500 housing units,” he said.
President Mahama said the Saglemi project dates back to the administration of the late President John Evans Atta Mills, who initiated the development before it stalled following a change of government and subsequent legal and investigative issues.
“This was a vision that was started by Professor Atta Mills, and I came and continued it. Unfortunately, when the government changed hands, there were some issues, legal issues, and the new government said they wanted to investigate and in the meantime the project stalled,” he said.
According to the President, the prolonged suspension of construction left the development vulnerable to extensive vandalism, with several installations removed from the site.
“Looters came in and stole everything, the cables, the wash basins, the baths, all the fittings, electrical bulbs,” he said.
He added that some telecommunications cables that had been laid underground were also removed.
President Mahama said government subsequently opened the project to private-sector participation as part of efforts to complete the development, with LMI Holdings selected to undertake the redevelopment.
He said the location of the estate, close to the industrial areas of Tema and Dawa, would make the houses attractive to workers and families in the surrounding communities.
“The good thing is if people don’t register fast enough, you see all these industries here, all the way to Tema, those in the industrial area, Dawa Industrial Area. They will snap up all the houses for their workers,” he said.
The President therefore urged prospective homeowners to prepare to register once the official portal for the houses is opened.
He said the estate would be supported by essential infrastructure, including water and solar power facilities, to improve living conditions for residents.
On financing, President Mahama said arrangements were being made to enable prospective homeowners to access mortgage and loan facilities to purchase the houses.
He said financial institutions, including the National Homeownership Fund, were prepared to assist buyers with deposits and mortgage arrangements.
According to him, the financing structure would allow buyers to spread payments over an agreed period while benefiting from relatively low interest rates.
Government is expected to announce details on the registration process, pricing and eligibility requirements once the official portal for the Saglemi housing units is opened.
