Vice President Makes Case For GREDA To Take Part In Affordable Housing Project

From Edmund Mingle, Kpone.

The Vice President Kwesi Amissah-Arthur on Tuesday made a case for the Ghana Real Estate Developers Association (GREDA) as he directed the Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing to actively involve the association in the execution of government’s ongoing affordable housing projects.

Vice President Amissah-Arhur( second right, front roll) with
Alhaji Collins Dauda( in smock) and Joe Abbey (third right)
during the tour of the affordable housing sites

He believed that the participation of the GREDA would help to effectively complete the affordable housing projects across the country.

Vice President Amissah-Arthur, who gave the directive during an inspection tour of the affordable housing project site at Kpone near Tema on Tuesday, said it was important that the required resources were mobilized to complete the project for the benefit of Ghanaians.

When the modalities for the association’s participation are finalized, GREDA, which has continuously questioned its non-involvement in the project as a group, would join institutions such as the Tema Development Corporation (TDC) and the State Housing Company (SHC) to complete the hundreds of blocks of housing unit at Kpone and Borteyman.

Construction works at the Kpone, Borteyman, Wa, Tamale, Asokori Mampong and Koforidua sites have stalled for a number of years due to financial and logistical problems.

But the Vice President indicated that resources need to be found to complete the projects, which are more than 60 per cent completed, since such huge investment could not be left to go waste.

Vice President Amissah-Arthur in a chat with IGP, Mohammed
Alhassan and National Security Coordinator, Lt. Col. Gbevlo Lartey

“We are determined to have these blocks completed,” he said.

The Vice President, who also toured the Borteyman project site, urged the sector Ministry to develop innovative means to get resources for the completion works.

In that regard, he lauded the Ministry for involving the TDC and the SHC for complete some of the blocks.

 The TDC has been allocated 24 blocks consisting of 314 units out of the total of 1,546 units at Kpone to complete.

According to the Alhaji Collins Dauda, Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing, more blocks would be allocated to the TDC depending on its performance on the 24 blocks.

He said five blocks made up of 72 units, which were allocated to the Military have been completed, adding that arrangements were underway to allocate some to the Police and other security agencies who have the resources to complete the allocated blocks.

 He explained that the Ministry was making arrangements with the banks for a mortgage facility to help public sector workers who would be allocated the houses to repay.

This will ensure that those who finance the project recoup their funds,” he said.

He assured GREDA of the Ministry’s cooperation, and indication that the Ministry was prepared to involve investors who have the funds to support the completion of the projects.

Kwakye Dopoah Dei, President of GREDA, who was part of the tour, thanked the Vice President for the intervention, and promised that its members would do their best to deliver.

Joe Abbey, Managing Director of TDC, thanked the Housing Ministry for the cooperation, and gave the assurance that their 24 blocks would be fully completed within six months.

Those who joined the Vice President for the tour included the Inspector General of Police Mohammed Alhassan and Greater Accra Regional Minister, Julius Debrah.

END

STX Faces Contempt Charge Over Debt Owed Sky Resources Travel & Tours

By Edmund Mingle

A motion for contempt has been filed against Bernard Asamoah, Chief Executive Officer of STX Engineering and Construction Limited by Sky Resources Travel and Tours Limited over the former’s failure to pay 90,000 dollars as part payment defray a debt owed the travel and tours company.

Counsel for Sky Resources filed the motion for contempt last Friday at the Fast Track High Court which gave the order for Mr. Asamoah to pay the amount.

The debt accrued from the purchase of airline tickets at the cost of 163,161 dollars by Mr. Asamoah in 2010 for a government delegation to travel to USA and Mexico as part of the botched STX Housing project.

However, the Mr. Asamoah paid 19,354 dollars, and has since failed to pay the remaining 143, 807 dollars.

The passengers on the trip who have also being sued severally by the Plaintiff, are Alban Sumana Bagbin, the then Minister of Works & Housing, Alice Adjoa Yornas, David Asuming, Member of Parliament for Shai Osudoku, Sampson Nortey of the Ministry of Finance, Harry Yamson, STX Board Member, Joseph Sika Nartey from the Police Service, Peter Ghansah, from the Ghana Armed forces, William George Instiful, from KNUST, Sachimo Atongo,Yvonne Opoku, STX staff, Anaman Kofi, STX staff, Gabriel Ayomi Akakpo, George Padi, John Ahene Tetteh and James Akomea Frimpong

The Fast Track High Court, presided over by Justice L.L. Mensah, on October 28, 2013 ordered Mr Asamoah to pay 90,000 dollars to defray part of the debt by November 26, 2013, but the defendant failed to do so.

According to the statement of claim, the Plaintiff, Seth Osafo Danquah, Chief Executive of Sky Resources Travel and Tours Limited, between January 10 and May 16, 2011, acting on the strength of Mr. Asamoah’s representations and personnal assurance of repayment, issued airline tickets to the Mr. Asamoah and other passengers nominated by the Defendant to travel to Korea and other destinations at the total cost of 163,161 dollars.

“The defendants have repaid the sum of 19,354 dollars leaving unpaid the total sum of 143,807 dollars, and have refused to pay to date in spite of the Plaintiff’s entreaties.

“By reason of the Defendants’ default, the Plaintiff was compelled to take an overdraft facility from its bankers to meet its repayment obligations to the airlines from whom the tickets were purchased on credit, and which overdraft facility Plaintiff continues to service and has accrued a total liability of 450,000 dollars at present, and continues to run,” it said.

According to counsel for the Plaintiff, Sky Resources has virtually collapsed due to the high debt, as it has laid off 26 workers, and is currently being pursued by SSNIT for the company’s inability to pay workers’ contribution due to the poor financial standing as a result of the non -payment of the debt by STX Engineering.

The Plaintiff’s house, used as collateral for the loan facility to pay for the airline ticket, is also set to be auctioned by his bankers for non-payment of the loan

Currently, Mr. Osafo Danquah, has been hospitalized after fainting last Thursday due to the mounting pressure from his bankers.

END

HUMAN SECURITY DEPT. INTERVENES IN ACCRA WATER CRISIS

By Edmund Mingle

The Human Security Department of National Security has intervened in the severe water crisis that has hit Osu and surrounding areas in Accra.

 

As part of the intervention, the Department has been supplying free water daily with its tankers to households and shops in the affected areas.

The move has provided relief for the residents who hitherto grappled with the severe water shortage, which the Ghana Water Company says it is working to rectify.

Major Ignatius Awuni, Officer in Charge of the Human Security Department told the Ghanaian Times yesterday that his outfit has been supplying the water for since last Wednesday.

According to him the intervention was to help provide relief for the residents until the normal water supply had been restored.

He said the water tankers from the Prisons and Fire Services would be released to join the relief operations from today.

He said as a long term measure, the Department would drill boreholes in the area to supplement the water supply.

“The borehole can provide support in times of such water shortages,” he said, adding that the department’s borehole drilling team has started preparatory works for the boreholes project.

Residents the Ghanaian Times spoke interacted with were very appreciative of the relief operation by the Human Security Department.