Saglemi housing: Mahama sets March 2027 target for first 700 homes

President John Mahama has set March 2027 as the target for completing and commissioning the first 700 homes at the long-delayed Saglemi Affordable Housing Project.

He said a total of 1,500 housing units were expected to be completed by the end of 2027 as the government works with the private sector to revive the project.

Mr Mahama announced the timeline during a tour of the Saglemi development, where construction work is under way.

He also urged prospective homeowners to prepare to register once the government opens an official registration portal.

The project, located near industrial areas around Tema and the Dawa Industrial Area, has been stalled for years and suffered extensive vandalism while work was suspended.

Mr Mahama said the development was originally initiated under the administration of the late President John Evans Atta Mills but was subsequently halted after a change of government amid legal and investigative issues.

“This was a vision that was started by Professor Atta Mills, and I came and continued it,” he said.

“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.”

The President said the prolonged suspension left parts of the development vulnerable to looting.

He said electrical cables, bathroom fittings and other installations were removed, while some underground telecommunications cables were also taken.

The government has since brought in private-sector participation to restart the project, with LMI Holdings selected to undertake the redevelopment.

Mr Mahama said the location could generate significant demand because of its proximity to industrial areas and potential residents working in the surrounding businesses.

He suggested that companies could also take up homes for their workers.

“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 broader Saglemi development is planned as a 5,000-unit residential estate.

The first phase consists of 1,500 units. Mr Mahama said the government expects those units to be delivered by December 2027, after which work would begin on the remaining 3,500 homes.

The project also includes supporting infrastructure such as water and solar power facilities, according to the President.

For prospective buyers, the government says financing arrangements are also being developed.

Mr Mahama said financial institutions, including the National Homeownership Fund, were prepared to support buyers with deposits and mortgage financing.

He said buyers would be able to spread payments over an agreed period at relatively low interest rates.

However, the government has not yet provided the prices of the homes or opened the registration portal, according to the information available in the announcement.

Those details will be important for potential buyers seeking to determine whether the houses are genuinely affordable and what income or financing requirements will apply.

The immediate test for the project will therefore be whether the latest construction timetable is met after years of delays, legal disputes and deterioration of the site.

The government says further details on registration and pricing will be announced when the official portal is opened.