News:
February 8, 2016
Minister-designate for the Upper East Region, Albert Abongo, has observed that he has no regrets over the failed STX Housing project that was meant to provide 30,000 housing units to bridge the country’s expanding housing gap.
In January 2011, the late President John Evans Atta Mills cut the sod amid fanfare to officially commence the construction of 30,000 housing units for the security agencies at the Ghana Police Service Training Center, Tesano.
The cost of the facility was US$1,525,443,468.
The project was part of the US$10billion housing project that was signed by then Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing, Albert Abongo on behalf of the Government of Ghana and a South Korean firm, STX Construction Group.
But a year after, that dream became a mirage after it became apparently clear that the construction firm, STX Engineering and Construction Ghana Limited, had no funds to execute the project.
A Supplier’s Credit Agreement between the Government of Ghana and STX Engineering and Construction Ghana Limited, for an amount of US$1,525,443,468 was withdrawn from Parliament to that effect after calls by the Minority to do so.
Abongo, who has now been assigned to manage the Upper East Region speaking on the issue at the Appointments Committee of Parliament, Monday, said he is not bothered about the failed the STX Housing project.
Nonetheless, he told the panel that he was worried about the quantum of money lost in the deal by the Government of Ghana.
He, however, did not mention the amount lost by the State in the STX Housing project.