By: Hamza Lansah Lolly/Baba Issahaq Mohammed
The member of parliament for Gomoa Central, Kwame Asare Obeng alias A Plus, has strongly criticized the government’s decision to construct a Hajj Village, questioning its priority amid the country’s pressing economic and infrastructural needs.
In a statement issued on his Facebook page, Mr Asare argued that while religious obligations are important, national resources should be channelled into projects that benefit all citizens rather than a select group. He pointed out that the country is already struggling to complete critical initiatives such as the Agenda 111 hospitals, which aim to improve healthcare access for millions of Ghanaians.
“We have critical projects like the Agenda 111 hospitals, some of which are near completion and will provide essential healthcare services. Shouldn’t we focus on completing these hospitals before investing in a facility that benefits only a fraction of the population?” he questioned.
Responding to the criticism, the spokesperson and minister in charge of government communications, Hon Felix Kwakye Ofosu, has defended the project, stating that the Hajj Village is actually an airport terminal being constructed by the Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL), without any taxpayer funding. However, A Plus dismissed this claim, emphasizing that GACL is a state-owned enterprise and, therefore, its finances are still public funds.
“The Ghana Airport Company does not belong to Asagvam Herbal Clinic. It is a state enterprise, meaning any funds it uses are still state funds,” he argued.
He further suggested that if there is a genuine need for a new terminal, it should be a modern facility that enhances air travel for all Ghanaians rather than serving only a specific group.
Hon Kwame Asare Obeng also drew comparisons between the Hajj Village project and the National Cathedral, a government-backed religious project that was initially promised to be privately funded but later saw over $400 million in state expenditure, with little progress to show.
“This is exactly how Akufo-Addo and Ken Ofori-Atta justified the National Cathedral project, claiming it wouldn’t cost taxpayers a cent. Yet, they ended up spending over $400 million, and today, there is nothing to show but a dirty swimming pool,” he said
The Gomoa central MP warned that this could be another case of misplaced priorities, where criticism is met with political backlash rather than introspection.
“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 fought these things before, and we will always win, no matter how far under we go,” he declared.
The Hajj Village project has sparked widespread debate, with some supporting it as a necessary infrastructure for Muslim pilgrims, while others echo Hon Kwame A Plus’ concerns about prioritization and accountability in government spending.
