Tell it to the Marines” – Domelevo rejects Felix Kwakye Ofosu’s claim on Hajj Village funding
Former Auditor-General Daniel Yaw Domelevo has dismissed claims by Honorable Felix Kwakye Ofosu that the controversial Hajj Village project will not be funded by taxpayers’ money.
Reacting to the assertion, Domelevo scoffed at the claim, stating, “Honorable Felix Kwakye Ofosu, please tell it to the marines.” He emphasized that the Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL), which is overseeing the project, is a state-owned enterprise, meaning the government— and by extension, taxpayers— ultimately bear responsibility for its finances.
His comments come in the wake of President John Mahama’s sod-cutting ceremony for the Hajj Village project on Sunday, March 2, 2025, an initiative that has sparked mixed reactions.
Domelevo further questioned the government’s priorities, drawing a comparison between Ghana and Ethiopia. He noted that despite Ethiopia having a significantly larger Muslim population and a bigger landmass, the country chose to invest in a 5-star Skylight Hotel with over 1,000 rooms at its airport, rather than a Hajj village. He criticized what he described as misplaced priorities, especially at a time when Ghana is still recovering from the controversial $58 million spent on the national cathedral project.
“In fact, the celebrated Terminal 3 at Kotoka International Airport does not even compare favorably with Terminal 2 of Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa,” he added, stressing the need to stop celebrating mediocrity.
The debate over the Hajj Village project continues to generate strong opinions, with critics arguing that national resources should be directed toward infrastructure that benefits the broader population rather than a specific religious purpose.
