The Ministry of Works and Housing has strongly refuted recent claims made by Hon. Kennedy Agyapong, denying any collusion between a former Chief Justice and the Minister Francis Asenso Boakye in the alleged sale of the official residence of the late Justice Samuel Marful-Sau.
In a released statement, the Ministry categorically rejected the accusations, asserting that there has been no transaction involving the property in question.
Instead, it clarified that the ongoing developments at Justice Marful-Sau’s official residence are part of the long-standing Government Redevelopment Programme (GRP), initiated as early as 1992.
According to the Ministry, the GRP has been implemented by successive governments within the Greater Accra Region, specifically in neighborhoods such as Kanda, Cantonments, West Ridge, Roman Ridge, Osu Ringway, Airport Residential Area, and Labone.
The Cabinet approved a revised scheme in May 2018, extending the program to include additional neighborhoods.
The Ministry explained that the GRP is driven by a commitment to finding residential accommodation in Accra for the growing number of public and civil servants. The program aims to optimize the government’s prime lands in old run-down neighborhoods, contributing to higher densities in prime areas and the efficient use of existing infrastructure.
“The Programme has positively contributed to the growth of these prime neighborhoods, serving as accommodation for a greater number of public sector workers than before,” stated the Ministry.
Concurrently, the Ministry continues its mandate of providing housing for public sector workers, currently redeveloping four structures in Roman Ridge, formerly official residences for a late Supreme Court Justice, an Appeals Court Judge, a Minister of State, and a retired Chief Director.
Upon completion of this redevelopment, the Ministry disclosed plans for the three-acre land, intending to host 20 housing units for Ministers and other senior government officials, along with 4 units designated for Superior Court Justices. The Chief Director of the Ministry of Works and Housing and the Judicial Secretary have already signed a memorandum of understanding for this arrangement.
Emphasizing that the land in question remains the property of the State and has not been sold, the Ministry asserted that the GRP is a cost-effective initiative optimizing the efficient use of government lands.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the said land has not been sold as it is mischievously being alleged,” the Ministry clarified.
