What About Saglemi Housing Project Dr. Bawumia?

“As far as practicable, a government shall continue and execute projects and programs commenced by the previous governments…”

This what is captured in Article 35 (7) of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana, the very provision both the NPP and the NDC have over the years flouted with impunity.

It is sad that past and present governments for the sake of political inexpediency simply fail to continue projects started by the previous governments.

This failure is clearly because of the kind of politics we do in this country- demonizing every project a government in power embarks upon obviously for cheap political points.

That is why this paper finds the promise by the government to offer eligible citizens rental loans as a cheap campaign promise intended to insult the intelligence of the Ghanaian especially when the Saglemi Houses have been left to rot under this government.

According to the Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government will provide loans for young people to rent decent homes if its mandate is extended on December 7, 2020.

He said this will be done through a new National Rental Assistance scheme which will start off with an amount of GH¢100 million.

The Vice President who made the announcement at the official launch of the party’s election 2020 manifesto in the Central Region on Saturday said  “There are lots of youth who when they finish school, to rent accommodation is a big problem especially because of the demand for rent allowance sometimes up to two years demand. But someone who just finished school and is starting a job doesn’t have that savings to pay all these huge demands for rent allowance…There is a market failure…This is why the government has decided to come in and bridge this market failure by setting up a National Rental Assistance Scheme.”

Dr. Bawumia added that the scheme will primarily serve people in formal employment and people will be required to provide guarantors to access the support from the scheme.

He said the government will on a monthly basis deduct in fractions the loan from the income of the beneficiaries.

“Under this scheme, if you have a job and we can deduct regularly from your income under this scheme, the National Rent Assistance scheme will give you a loan to pay your rent allowance but it is to the landlord. You need to have formal employment.”

The Vice President further indicated that the government will partner with the private sector to raise more capital to keep the scheme functional.

“We are going to be putting in place a GH¢100 million for the National Rental Assistance scheme and work with the private sector to crowd in more [funds] so that we can get this done and relieve a lot of people who are renting of the burden.”

Irrespective of the intent of this program, the government must learn to take the citizens who voted them into power very serious.

What use is it then for the government to make this promise when about 1,000 housing units built under the Saglemi Housing Project remains inhabitable three years plus years on?