In a dramatic turn of events, the Attorney-General (A-G) and Minister for Justice, Dominic Akuritinga Ayine, has officially withdrawn all charges against former Minister for Works and Housing, Alhaji Collins Dauda, and four others in the high-profile Saglemi Housing Project case.

The decision formalized through a nolle prosequi notice filed at the High Court (Financial Division 1) in Accra, signifies the state’s abandonment of the case against the accused individuals.

The case, which had captivated national attention due to its implications on accountability and governance, initially named five individuals as defendants:

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

The withdrawal of charges, signed by the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, was filed on February 7, 2025, officially bringing the prosecution to an end.

The accused had initially faced 70 counts of causing financial loss to the state in relation to the controversial $200 million Saglemi Affordable Housing Project.

The case, initiated under the Akufo-Addo-led administration, alleged that the accused played pivotal roles in the planning and execution of the deal, which reportedly failed to deliver its intended benefits to the Ghanaian public.

The state contended that Collins Dauda, Kweku Agyeman-Mensah, and Alhaji Ziblim Yakubu were instrumental in approving and implementing the housing project, while Andrew Clocanas (now deceased) and Nouvi Tetteh Angelo were accused of financial irregularities that allegedly compromised the integrity of the contract.

The sudden decision to discontinue prosecution has sparked debate, raising questions about the rationale behind the withdrawal.

The nolle prosequi filing effectively indicates that the Attorney-General no longer sees merit in continuing the trial, whether due to lack of evidence, legal technicalities, or strategic policy shifts.

Political analysts, legal experts, and the general public are expected to scrutinize the decision, particularly in the context of governance, accountability, and the broader fight against corruption in Ghana.

As the dust settles on the Saglemi Housing case, attention now turns to the government’s next course of action regarding the stalled housing project.