Government rolls out plan for take-off of STX housing project

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The Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing has rolled-out an elaborate plan to facilitate what sector Minister, Alban Bagbin, calls “a smooth take off of the STX Housing Project nationwide”.

It comes just a week after Parliament approved three important agreements covering the project, namely: The Off-take Agreement between the Government of Ghana and STX Engineering and Construction Ghana Ltd., the Joint Venture Agreement between the Government of Ghana, STX Engineering and Construction Ghana Ltd. and Home Finance Company Ltd., as well as the Suppliers’ Credit Agreement between the Government of Ghana and STX Engineering and Construction Ghana Ltd.

At a representative stakeholders’ meeting on Tuesday, August 10, 2010 “key decisions were taken on various aspects of the 1.5 billion dollar project, which will provide 30,000 Housing units for the nation’s security services countrywide.”

For instance, the meeting approved a “detailed plan for the setting up of a special purpose company - which will be the Project Company in line with the STX Housing Agreement approved by Parliament on Tuesday August 3, 2010 - to execute the entire project.”

A government statement released on Wednesday and signed by Honourable Alban Bagbin said, “the location of the sites of the houses and the number of housing units to be built on each designated site, were firmed-up”. The meeting also “discussed and validated” the designs and drawings of the houses submitted by the College of Architecture and Planning, consultants to STX Engineering and Construction Ghana Ltd.

“Having put these plans in place for the smooth take-off of the biggest ever housing project for our security personnel, who are in dire need of houses, it is my hope that the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning will, within the shortest possible time, execute the Suppliers’ Credit Agreement between the Government of Ghana and STX

Engineering and Construction Ghana Ltd. for the project to begin.”

At the meeting, the College of Architecture and Engineering, consultants for STX Ghana presented a comprehensive plan of execution on the project.

“Per the plan of the consultants, the Tesano Police Training School will be the first to host the construction of the first 1,980 housing units to be built by STX Engineering and Construction Ghana Ltd.,” Hon Bagbin said.

“The Ministry has therefore started arrangements to move police personnel occupying old structures on the sites earmarked for the project to allow for smooth construction works to begin in the coming months.”

The meeting, which took place at the Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing was attended by representatives of STX Engineering and Construction Ghana Ltd., the Ghana Police Service, the Ghana Armed Forces, the Ghana Real Estates Developers Association (GREDA), Home Finance Company (HFC) Ltd, State Housing Company (SHC), and the Architecture and Engineering Services Ltd. Also present was the Registrar of the Institute of Architects was also at the meeting.

The Inspector General of Police, Paul Tawiah Quaye, led the delegation from the Police Service. GREDA President, Dr. Alex Tweneboa represented his association, while Managing Director, Asare Akuffo represented the HFC. The State Housing Company was represented by its Managing Director, Mr. Mark Nii Akwei Ankrah while the Chief Executive Officer of STX Engineering and Construction Ghana Ltd, B.K. Asamoah led his company’s delegation, with the Minister chairing the discussions.