For causing the state to suffer financial loss due to the Saglemi Affordable Housing project, state prosecutors have filed 70 new charges against Alhaji Collins Dauda, the former Minister for Water Resources, Works, and Housing, and four other individuals. 52 counts that were previously brought against them in July 2021 have been replaced by the most recent charge sheet.
The Saglemi Housing Agreement was prepared and signed with the help of Alhaji Collins Dauda, Dr. Kwaku Agyemang-Mensah, a former Minister for Water Resources, Works, and Housing, and Alhaji Ziblim Yakubu, the Ministry’s Chief Director. Businessmen Nouvi Tetteh Angelo, the CEO and owner of Ridge Management Solutions Ghana Limited, and Andrew Clocanas, Executive Chairman of Constructora OAS Ghana Limited, are also involved.
A Principal State Attorney named Hilda Craig informed the Criminal Division of the Accra High Court on Tuesday, January 24, that new charges had been filed that morning. The most recent charges, according to her, would take the place of the prior ones, which included misusing public property willfully and causing the state financial harm. Hilda Craig informed the court that “the prosecution has as of Tuesday, January 23 filed a fresh charge sheet.” She said, “This charge sheet is to replace what is already before you, as we suggested to the court some time ago.”
The State prosecutor responded, “We filed it this morning and they (Registry) assured us they were now going to scan and produce the court’s copy,” when Justice Elfreda Denkyi’s court stated that it did not have a copy. Alhaji Zeblim Yakutia, the third accused, was not there but Alhaji Collins Dauda and three other defendants were, and according to a medical report to the court, he was ill. Their pleas were not accepted, according to Murtala Inusah, the Legal Affairs Correspondent for EIB Network, because the third accused was not present. To hear their pleadings, Justice Elfreda Denkyi has continued the case to Faburay 24.
The third accused person will be permitted to enter his plea by video link from his base in Tamale if he is unable to appear in person, according to a court order. The $200 million Saglemi Housing Project controversy involves Alhaji Collins Dauda, a former minister of water resources, works, and housing who now serves as the NDC’s representative for Asutifi South in the Ahafo Region, along with four other individuals.
