In a stunning reversal of events, former Works and Housing Minister Alhaji Collins Dauda and four other individuals in the well-known Saglemi Housing Project case have had all charges against them formally dropped by Attorney General (AG) and Justice Minister Dominic Akuritinga Ayine.
The state’s decision to drop the case against the accused is formalized by a nolle prosequi notice submitted to the High Court (Financial Division 1) in Accra.
Five people were initially listed as defendants in the case, which had captured national interest because of its implications for governance and accountability:
Alhaji Collins Dauda—Former Minister for Works and Housing
Kweku Agyeman-Mensah—Former Minister for Water Resources, Works, and Housing
Alhaji Ziblim Yakubu—Former Chief Director, Ministry for Water Resources, Works, and Housing
Nouvi Tetteh Angelo—CEO of Ridge Management Solutions Ghana Limited
Andrew Clocanas (deceased)—Former Executive Chairman, Construtora OAS Ghana Limited
On February 7, 2025, the Attorney General and the Minister of Justice signed the withdrawal of charges, which formally ended the prosecution.
In connection with the contentious $200 million Saglemi Affordable Housing Project, the defendant was first charged with 70 counts of causing financial loss to the state.
According to the lawsuit, which was started during the Akufo-Addo administration, the accused were crucial to the arrangement’s conception and implementation, which allegedly did not provide the Ghanaian people with the advantages it was supposed to.
While Andrew Clocanas (now deceased) and Nouvi Tetteh Angelo were charged with financial irregularities that allegedly compromised the integrity of the contract, the state argued that Collins Dauda, Kweku Agyeman-Mensah, and Alhaji Ziblim Yakubu played a crucial role in approving and carrying out the housing project.
Questions concerning the reasoning behind the withdrawal have been raised by the abrupt decision to stop prosecution.
Due to a lack of evidence, legal technicalities, or changes in strategic policy, the Attorney General no longer sees the need to proceed with the trial, as indicated by the nolle prosequi filing.
Political analysts, legal professionals, and members of the public are anticipated to examine the ruling closely, especially in light of accountability, governance, and Ghana’s larger anti-corruption campaign.
When the Saglemi Housing case is finally concluded, focus shifts to what the government will do about the housing project that has stalled.
Source: newsthemegh.com