Minority MPs raise more issues over STX housing deal

The controversy surrounding the National Housing Project will not go away as the minority NPP in Parliament raise fresh questions over the execution date, the amount involved and the people behind the company executing the project.

The project, popularly known as the STX housing project, took centre stage in Parliament on Tuesday when the Member of Parliament for Bantama, Ms Cecilia Dapaah, questioned the Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing, Alban Bagbin, on the status of the execution of the STX agreement.

Mr Bagbin told the House that because of the intense pressure on accommodation facilities in the capital, the project is expected to begin in the Greater Accra region in areas such as Atomic Energy, Burma Camp, and Tesano.

He said $1.5 million has been sourced for the project and in the meantime, the “STX Engineering and Construction (GH) Limited per their programme of implementation will start land preparation this July and are currently mobilizing to send equipment to the sites.”

Mr Bagbin said the Finance Ministry has, on behalf of government, issued the Sovereign Guarantee and made the necessary arrangement for the transfer of the money.

“A dedicated account has also been opened at the Bank of Ghana for the necessary transactions. Madam Speaker, following the sod-cutting ceremony, 15 sites have been handed over to STX E&C on the 16th of March, 2011,” he added.

By Eunice Menka