700 Saglemi housing units to be ready by March 2027- President Mahama

President John Dramani Mahama has announced that the first 700 housing units under the revived Saglemi Housing Project are expected to be ready for commissioning by March 2027, with a total of 1,500 units to be completed by December 2027.

He made the announcement when he inspected ongoing works on the Saglemi Housing Project, where he expressed satisfaction with progress made following the government’s decision to partner the private sector to revive the stalled project.

“As the developer has indicated, 700 housing units will be ready for commissioning by March next year, while a total of 1,500 units will be completed by December next year,” President Mahama said.

President Mahama said the Saglemi project was originally conceived under the late President Professor John Evans Atta Mills, and that he had continued the initiative during his previous administration.

“This project was a vision that began under the late President Professor John Evans Atta Mills, and I had the privilege of continuing it during my previous administration,” he said.

According to him, the change of government subsequently led to legal challenges and investigations into the project, resulting in a halt to construction.

He said the prolonged stoppage also exposed the development to extensive looting, with electrical cables, wash basins, bathtubs, fittings, bulbs and underground telecommunications cables removed from the site.

“Unfortunately, when government changed, legal issues arose. The incoming administration decided to investigate the project, and in the meantime, construction came to a halt.

“The unfortunate consequence was that looters invaded the site. They stole electrical cables, wash basins, bathtubs, fittings, bulbs and even pulled out underground telecommunications cables, leaving behind nothing but empty shells,” he added.

President Mahama said government eventually opted for a private-sector partnership to complete the project, with LMI selected to undertake the development.

He said the ongoing redevelopment would transform the estate into a modern residential community capable of providing decent accommodation for thousands of Ghanaian families.

“From what you have seen today, this estate is going to become a modern and conducive residential community for thousands of Ghanaian families,” he said.

The President urged prospective homeowners to register promptly when the sales portal was opened, saying the houses were expected to attract significant demand.

“I want to encourage Ghanaians to register as soon as the sales portal is opened because these houses will be in high demand,” he said.

He said workers of industries located along the corridor, particularly around Tema and the Dawa Industrial Park, were also likely to seek accommodation at Saglemi.

“If prospective homeowners delay, the many industries located from here through Tema and the Dawa Industrial Park will quickly acquire these houses for their workers,” President Mahama said.

He, however, stressed that the estate was not intended exclusively for industrial workers but would also serve Ghanaian families seeking homes in a well-planned community.

President Mahama said the housing project would be supported by water, road and railway infrastructure to improve connectivity and services within the area.

He explained that the water treatment plant serving the Dawa Industrial Park had capacity beyond the industrial park’s requirements, allowing surplus water to be supplied to the Saglemi estate.

He said the remaining excess could subsequently be transmitted to the Tema Industrial Area in collaboration with the Ghana Water Company.

The President further disclosed that the road from the area to Aflao was being dualised, with the first phase already under construction and the second phase, from Central University, being prepared for award.

He said a railway connection would also be developed to transport passengers and cargo, including containers and industrial goods from the Tema Port directly to the industrial park.

“This area is therefore evolving into a major industrial and residential growth corridor,” he said.

President Mahama said Saglemi also fitted into government’s broader vision of developing a Green Digital City along the corridor.

According to him, the proposed city would extend from the Saglemi area through Bundase and the former military firing range towards the Volta Lake, creating a new urban growth zone.

He said the current development represented only the first phase of the original Saglemi project, which was conceived as a 5,000-unit affordable housing estate.

“Saglemi was originally conceived as a 5,000-unit affordable housing estate. The current phase delivers the first 1,500 units,” President Mahama said.

He added that work on the remaining 3,500 housing units would commence immediately after the completion of the first 1,500 units.

“After completing this phase, work will immediately commence on the remaining 3,500 housing units,” he said.

President Mahama also said several financial institutions had developed mortgage products to assist prospective homeowners to acquire the houses.

He said the Home Ownership Fund and other financial institutions were prepared to finance the 10 per cent deposit and provide affordable mortgages at relatively low interest rates.

He said the financing arrangements formed part of government’s broader strategy to increase home ownership and reduce the burden of excessive rent advances on Ghanaian households.

“If we increase the supply of affordable and social housing, more Ghanaians will own their homes, easing pressure on the rental market and making rental accommodation more affordable for those who choose to rent,” he said.

President Mahama noted that although the law restricted rent advance to a maximum of six months, enforcement remained difficult because landlords and tenants often failed to report violations.

He said the long-term solution was therefore to increase the supply of decent and affordable housing across the country.

The President disclosed that government was preparing a major national housing programme, which would be announced by the Minister for Finance in the next budget.

He said the Ministry responsible for Housing was also working on the District Housing Scheme, for which GH¢500 million had been allocated in the 2026 Budget.

“Construction of district housing projects will begin this year in selected districts, marking the beginning of a new housing vision that Government intends to roll out over the next four years,” he said.

President Mahama commended the management and workers of LMI for the progress made on the Saglemi project and expressed confidence that the developer would meet the agreed timeline.

He said government expected to return around Easter next year to commission the first 700 housing units and subsequently return in December to commission the remaining units, completing the first phase of 1,500 homes.

“It is my hope that shortly after Christmas, around Easter next year, we shall gather here to commission the first 700 housing units and hand them over to homeowners,” President Mahama said.

“Then, in December next year, we shall return once again to commission the remaining units, completing the first phase of 1,500 houses,” he added.

Richard Aniagyei, ISD