Saglemi project: Former Housing Ministry’s Chief Director ordered to appear in court in 48hrs

A former Chief Director of the Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing has been ordered to appear before the High Court within 48-hours. 

Alhaji Ziblim Yakubu is to appear before the court for his plea to be taken in a criminal case pending since 2021.

The Presiding Judge, Justice Ernest Owusu-Dapaa addressing the court on Monday, June 5, said the law will be applied accordingly if the accused person fails to appear on Wednesday, June 7. 

Alhaji Ziblim Yakubu, was the Chief Director of the Ministry from 2009 to 2017, along with four others have been charged with causing financial loss to the state and others over the Saglemi Affordable Housing Project. 

Notable amongst the other defendants are a former Minister of the Ministry, Alhaji Collins Dauda, his successor, Dr Kwaku Agyeman-Mensah. 

The others are the Executive Chairman of Construtora OAS, the Brazilian company which constructed the affordable housing project at Saglemi, Andrew Clocanas, and a director of RMS, the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) consultancy subcontractor, Nouvi Tetteh Angelo, over the Saglemi Affordable Housing Project.

However, the case which began in August 2021 has been at a standstill due to the ill health of the former Chief Director.

Meanwhile, the other accused persons pleaded not guilty to counts of wilfully causing financial loss to the state, misapplying public property, issuing false certificates and dishonestly causing loss to public property when they made their first appearance.