Audio Attachment:Listen to Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwah in an interview with Kwami Sefa-Kayi |
A Deputy Minister of Information, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has expressed frustration over the snags, hitches and glitches associated with the take-off of the $1.5 billion conflict-ridden STX Housing Project, saying the STX project is now more or less an albatross around the neck of the President Mills� led NDC administration.
According to him, government had very good intentions of reducing the housing deficit and providing comfortable accommodation for the security services, but things have gone awry and not as expected.
The STX deal was for the construction of 200,000 houses in Ghana within a period of five years, 30,000 of which (housing units) would have been for the security services. But almost a year after the contract was signed, not a single cement block has been laid in the ground. To cap it up, the Ghanaian and Korean partners are engaged in a 'turf war' for control.
Things got murkier last week when the Koreans, who reportedly broke away and formed a new company, STX E&C Ghana Ltd., in a terse note signed by its CEO and Executive Chairman, Im-Dong Park, claimed �On August 18, 2011 the Board of STX Engineering & Construction Ghana Ltd approved a resolution to remove Mr. BK Asamoah from the Chief Executive Office and Mr George Padi from the position of Deputy Chief Financial Officer.
�STX Engineering & Construction Ghana Ltd hereby notifies the general public that Mr BK Asamoah and Mr. George Padi do not have any rights to represent STX Engineering & Construction Ghana Ltd in any action, contract or agreement. Therefore, any commitment, contract and/or agreement made by Mr. B.K. Asamoah and Mr. George Padi are void and invalid. Furthermore, please be informed that 2 criminal complaints and 2 civil law suits have been filed against Mr B.K. Asamoah,� the statement added.
But B.K Asamoah issued a counter statement, saying, �STX Construction (Korea) is no longer an equity partner in STX Engineering and Construction Limited which STX Construction (Korea) exited in May 2011. STX Construction (Korea) therefore has no locus in STX Engineering and Construction Limited and consequently, no basis for any actions in respect of STX Engineering and Construction Limited.�
Speaking in an interview on Peace FM�s �Kokrokoo� Morning Show, Okudzeto Ablakwa said government could not have foreseen the current boardroom drama.
�STX has turned into an albatross around our neck, we must admit. The project was to provide housing for our security services and civilians, 30,000 for the security services and then other thousands across the country in all the ten regions. Our housing deficit is big and it is making rents very expensive so we had good intentions of wanting to reduce the housing deficit and we could not have foreseen that all this board room wrangling which has wrangled out of the board room to the court with legal tussles here and there was going to happen,� he espoused.
He described as unfortunate current happenings amongst the partners, but added that government is awaiting legal advice from the Attorney General�s (AG) department on the way forward over the legal tussles and boardroom wrangling that has beset the execution of the STX Housing Project.
�It is very unfortunate so what government has asked the Attorney-General to study the latest development and advice accordingly. There will be a meeting this week to review the situation, then decision will be taken based on the legal advice that we get from the Attorney-General,� he added.
"The STX project was a major flagship project that we thought by now certain edifice would have come up for Ghanaians to know that the building will be ready for occupancy soon, but all we keep hearing everyday is squabbles and wrangling. Clearly we cannot continue this way, we are not happy that the partners in the company will take all us for a ride, it is a sad development,� Okudzeto Ablakwa said.
Source: Beatrice Adepa Frempong/Peacefmonline.com
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