By: Kenneth Appiah Bani.
Kwame ‘A-Plus’ Asare Obeng, Member of Parliament for Gomoa Central, has strongly criticized the Hajj Village project, arguing that it is a misplaced priority, particularly given the government’s own claims that Ghana has more pressing concerns.
In a Facebook post, the socio-political commentator questioned the government’s assertion that the project was not being funded with taxpayer money.
“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,” A-Plus stated.
He challenged the rationale behind the project, arguing that if there is a genuine need for a new airport terminal, it should be designed with modern facilities that enhance air travel for all Ghanaians, rather than catering to a specific group.
A-Plus also drew parallels between this project and the controversial National Cathedral initiative under the previous administration, highlighting how initial claims that public funds would not be used ultimately proved false.
“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 remarked.
He further cautioned the new National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration under President John Mahama against repeating the mistakes of the previous New Patriotic Party (NPP) government, warning that misplaced priorities and lack of transparency contributed to the NPP’s defeat in the 2024 elections.
A-Plus emphasized the need to prioritize projects that serve all citizens, such as the Agenda 111 hospitals, many of which are near completion and poised to provide critical healthcare services.
“This is how it begins they fail to take wise counsel and instead send their foot soldiers to insult us for speaking the truth. We have seen these things, we have fought these things, we have won against them and will always win, no matter how far under we go. It is a fact, scientifically proven!” he asserted.
His remarks have reignited debates about government spending priorities, with many Ghanaians calling for greater accountability and a focus on initiatives that benefit the broader population.
