The Minister of Works and Housing, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, has announced that the government expects to receive bids for the uncompleted Saglemi Housing Project by July 8, 2024.
According to the Minister, ten companies and individuals who have conducted thorough site explorations are set to formally submit their bids.
Addressing the Parliamentary Press Corps in Accra on Wednesday, June 19, 2024, Mr. Oppong Nkrumah provided an update on the Request for Proposals (RFP) issued earlier this year.
“A couple of months ago, we issued a Request for Proposals (RFP). To date, I’ve been briefed that about ten companies, both international and local, have expressed interest. They have picked up forms, visited the project site, and inspected the work completed so far,” the Ofoase-Ayirebi MP announced.
He also emphasized the government’s commitment to transparency and fairness in the selection process.
“According to the work plan we’ve put together, by the 8th of July, we expect to formally receive all of the bids. We will conduct this process openly, handing over the bids to an independent evaluation entity. Based on their evaluation report, the government will proceed to select one of the bidders,” he stated.
Mr. Oppong Nkrumah added that this approach aims to ensure the best-suited developer is chosen based on merit and quality, addressing the long-standing issue of incomplete public housing projects in Ghana.
The government initially took a loan of US$200 million to build 5,000 housing units, with 1,506 units partially completed. According to Mr. Oppong Nkrumah, three major components—water, electricity, and sewerage works—were missing from the project when the Ghana Institutes of Surveyors conducted their assessment.
The Saglemi Housing Project, which initially planned to deliver 5,000 affordable housing units, was scaled back to 1,506 units before being halted due to legal issues. The partially built structures have since suffered from vandalism and theft, complicating efforts to complete the project. However, the current administration is determined to see it through by leveraging private sector expertise and resources.
By Eugene Davis
