A former Auditor-General, Daniel Yao Domelevo, has strongly criticised the government led by President John Dramani Mahama, arguing that its decision to prioritise the construction of a Hajj Village is a misplaced use of resources.
Domelevo expressed concern that such a project is unnecessary, particularly when the country is still grappling with the financial fallout from the $58 million spent on the National Cathedral with little tangible progress.
He described the initiative as “fruitless and wasteful,” questioning the logic behind allocating resources to a religious facility while Ghana’s economy remains fragile.
Responding to comments made by the Minister of State in charge of Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, who assured that the Hajj Village project would not come at any cost to the taxpayer, Domelevo dismissed the claim as misleading.
He pointed out that the Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL) is a state-owned enterprise, meaning its revenue ultimately belongs to the government.
He further argued that the government could be a major shareholder in the enterprise, making it difficult to believe that public funds would not be involved in the project’s development.
“It is truly astonishing—especially as we grapple with recovering over $58 million squandered on the National Cathedral project—that one of the key priorities of the Mahama administration is the fruitless and wasteful Hajj Village project,” Domelevo remarked.
He criticised the government’s focus on such initiatives instead of addressing pressing economic challenges and questioned why Ghana is investing in projects that do not directly contribute to economic growth.
Domelevo compared Ghana’s priorities to those of Ethiopia, highlighting that despite having a large Muslim population, Ethiopia has opted to invest in infrastructure that serves a broader economic purpose.
He pointed out that Ethiopia has developed a five-star Skylight hotel with over 1,000 rooms to support passenger transit, while also expanding its airport facilities.
In contrast, he lamented that Ghana is celebrating the construction of a Hajj Village, which does not align with the nation’s broader developmental needs. “We should stop celebrating mediocrity,” he concluded.
His comments have reignited discussions about the project’s source of funding, with many questioning whether taxpayer money is truly not involved. Despite government assurances that public funds will not be used, scepticism remains, particularly given the state-owned status of the GACL.
The proposed Hajj Village, if completed, is expected to serve as a dedicated terminal for Ghanaian pilgrims travelling to Mecca. However, critics, including Domelevo, argue that the nation should prioritise projects that have a more direct and lasting impact on economic development.
