Gomoa Central MP, Kwame Asare Obeng has criticised the government over its Hajj Village project
The Member of Parliament of Gomoa Central, Kwame Asare Obeng, has raised concerns over the government’s assertion that the development of the Hajj Village in Accra will not be funded by taxpayer money.
Wading into the controversy surrounding the project, the lawmaker, also known as A Plus, described the government’s statements as lacking transparency to convince the ordinary taxpayer.
A Plus stated that the approach being taken by the government, along with its claim that no taxpayer money will be allocated for the development of the Hajj Village, mirrors the same approach used by former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and former Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, in the construction of the National Cathedral.
According to him, the former government ended up using state funds for the National Cathedral project, contrary to its earlier promises and assurances to the citizens.
“We have seen this playbook before. This is exactly how Akufo-Addo and Ken Ofori-Atta justified their National Cathedral project—promising it wouldn’t cost the taxpayer a cent. Yet, they ended up spending over $400 million on a project that remains unfinished, with nothing to show but a dirty swimming pool,” he wrote on Facebook on Monday, March 3, 2025.
The lawmaker strongly expressed his opposition to the development of the project, stating that there were more urgent issues that the government needed to address.
He argued that the use of national resources in the development of projects should be directed toward benefiting every citizen, citing projects such as Agenda 111 as examples of initiatives that would serve the broader population.
“I strongly disagree with the controversial Hajj Village project, especially at a time when according to the new government, Ghana has more urgent priorities. While I respect the significance of religious obligations, national resources must be directed toward projects that serve all Ghanaians.
“We have critical projects like the Agenda 111 hospitals. Some are near completion and will provide essential healthcare services to millions. Shouldn’t we focus on completing these hospitals before investing in a facility that benefits only a fraction of the population?” he added.
A Plus was of the view that the project, being developed by the Ghana Airports Company Ltd (GACL), will still involve state funds, stressing that GACL is a state-owned institution.
“The spokesperson for the President claims that the Hajj Village is a new airport terminal being built by the Ghana Airports Company Ltd (GACL) and that no taxpayer money is involved. Please, the Ghana Airport Company does not belong to Asagyam Herbal Clinic. It is a state enterprise, meaning any funds it uses are still state funds. If there is a need for a new terminal, which may be more expensive than the cost of the Hajj Village/Hajj Terminal, go ahead and build one with modern facilities that improve air travel for everyone,” he added.
MAG/AE
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