The Parliamentary Committee on Works and Housing has conducted a site visit to the Seglemi Affordable Housing Project following a fire outbreak that occurred recently.
The visit aimed to uncover the cause of the fire and assess the state of the stalled project.
During the inspection, Project Supervisor Mr. Yaw Obeng explained that the fire resulted from a controlled bush-burning exercise that unintentionally spread to nearby containers.
He assured the committee that no project-related documents were damaged in the incident.
The committee members expressed deep concern over the worsening condition of building materials at the site, including thefts and the wastage of valuable items like tiles and doors.
Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Vincent Oppong Asamoah, who is also the Member of Parliament for Dormaa West, voiced his disappointment over the prolonged abandonment of the project.
“It is disheartening that these buildings have been neglected for eight years due to unresolved legal issues,” he remarked.
Dr. Emmanuel Marfo, MP for Oforikrom, speaking on behalf of the committee’s Ranking Member, revealed that the Ghana Police Service has been assigned to secure the site.
However, he lamented the extensive theft and vandalism that have already occurred, leaving only the structural frameworks intact.
He added that both the police and the Ministry of Works and Housing would be summoned before the committee to address these issues.
Dr. Marfo further called for legislative reforms to ensure the continuation of government projects during transitions.
“The Presidential Transition Act should be amended to mandate incoming administrations to complete ongoing projects. Alternatively, transitional agreements must prioritize the continuity of state-funded initiatives,” he suggested.
The Seglemi Affordable Housing Project, which has faced years of delays, is now under the management of Quarm LMI Consortium. The company took over in November 2024 to complete the development.
This latest incident adds to growing concerns about the effective management and security of abandoned government projects across the country.
