President John Dramani Mahama has announced that the first 700 housing units at the long-delayed Saglemi Affordable Housing Project will be completed and commissioned by March 2027, with the first phase of 1,500 units expected to be delivered by December 2027.
The President made the announcement on Thursday, August 20, 2026, during an inspection tour of the project site in the Greater Accra Region, where he assessed progress on the redevelopment of the estate. The tour formed part of government’s efforts to revive stalled housing projects and expand access to affordable housing as the country continues to grapple with a significant housing deficit.
A Vision Stalled
The Saglemi Housing Project was initiated in 2012 under the administration of the late President John Evans Atta Mills, with the original objective of constructing 5,000 affordable housing units to help address Ghana’s housing deficit. The project, located on a 300-acre land with one- to three-bedroom flats for low-income and middle-income earners, was backed by a US$200 million loan.
However, President Mahama said the project suffered setbacks following a change in government, as legal issues and investigations contributed to the prolonged delay. “This was a vision that was started by Professor Atta Mills and I came to continue it. Unfortunately, when government changed hands, there were some legal issues and the new government said they wanted to investigate,” he said. The project subsequently became the subject of a criminal justice inquest during the New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration.
The prolonged abandonment of the site also exposed it to extensive vandalism and theft, leaving several of the completed structures without essential fittings and infrastructure. “Looters came in and stole everything: the cables, the washbasins, the baths, all the fittings, electricals, bulbs; they even took the telecom cables from underground and pulled them away and took them, and so it just left an empty shell,” President Mahama said.
Private-Sector Partnership
President Mahama said government eventually decided to partner with the private sector to revive and complete the development, leading to the selection of LMI Holdings to undertake the redevelopment. In October 2024, the Quarm-LMI Consortium was selected as the preferred developer to finance and complete the project. Quarm-LMI Holdings is a consortium consisting of LMI, with interests in industrial park development and real estate, and QUARM, with expertise in logistics, utilities and finance.
The Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of LMI Holdings, Kojo Aduhene, said critical infrastructure works were ongoing across the estate, including underground cabling, clearing of overgrown vegetation and the provision of reliable water infrastructure. “We’re doing all the underground cabling, clearing the weeds, and water will not be a problem because we’ve got a water plant ready in the Dawa Industrial Area and it’s enough to supply water for all the units,” Mr Aduhene said. He also disclosed that the estate would be equipped with internet connectivity to ensure residents have access to essential digital services.
Modern Community for Ghanaian Families
President Mahama said the redevelopment would transform Saglemi into a modern and conducive 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.
He urged Ghanaians to register promptly when the sales portal is opened, warning that demand for the houses is likely to be high due to growing industrial activities around Tema and the Dawa Industrial Park. Industries located along the corridor could also seek to acquire the houses for their workers, he said.
On home ownership, President Mahama said several financial institutions were developing mortgage products to support prospective homeowners. He said the Home Ownership Fund and other financial institutions were prepared to support the required 10 percent deposit and provide affordable mortgages at relatively low interest rates.
Supporting Infrastructure
Beyond the housing development, President Mahama said Saglemi would benefit from major supporting infrastructure, including improved road, water, digital and railway connectivity. He said surplus water from the treatment plant serving the Dawa Industrial Park would be supplied to Saglemi.
“Government is dualising the road from here to Aflao. The first phase is already under construction, while the second phase from Central University is being awarded. Residents will therefore enjoy a fast and efficient road connection,” he said. He added that a planned railway connection would transport both passengers and cargo, including containers and industrial goods from the Tema Port to the industrial park.
Green Digital City Vision
According to President Mahama, these developments are gradually transforming the area into a major industrial and residential growth corridor. He said Saglemi also fits into government’s broader Green Digital City concept, which is expected to create a new urban growth zone stretching from the corridor through Bundase and the former military firing range towards the Volta Lake. “Saglemi fits perfectly into the concept of the Green Digital City that Government is developing,” he said.
Delivery Timeline
The President said he expected the developer to fulfil its commitment on the housing delivery timeline. “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. Then, in December next year, we shall return once again to commission the remaining units, completing the first phase of 1,500 houses,” he said.
The first phase represents 1,500 units of the original 5,000-unit Saglemi project, with President Mahama indicating that work would subsequently commence on the remaining 3,500 units.
Broader Housing Agenda
President Mahama also linked the project to government’s broader efforts to increase the supply of affordable housing and reduce the burden of high rent advances on Ghanaian families. “Saglemi is not the last housing project. Government is preparing a major national housing programme that will be announced by the Finance Minister in the next budget,” he said.
He noted that GH¢500 million had already been allocated in the 2026 budget to the District Housing Scheme, with construction expected to begin in selected districts as government rolls out its housing agenda over the next four years.
