THE STX KOREAN HOUSING DEAL AND THE FUTURE

PRESS RELEASE

5 AUGUST, 2010

THE STX KOREAN HOUSING DEAL AND THE FUTURE


We, the members of Africa's Young Social Entrepreneurs Network (AYSEN) with an unyielding hope in our forbearers for bequeathing to us parliamentary democracy are cautiously optimistic of the institution of parliament.

However, the passage of the infamous STX Korean Housing Deal in parliament on Tuesday the 3 August, 2010 at exactly 1:08 am GMT bodes doom for our future as a burgeoning third world country.

The deal which is in three parts inter alia, the off-taker, the joint venture and the supplier Credit agreement will according to the deal see the building of 200, 000 housing units that is 30, 000 for security services and the rest for the nation.

As a group which believes in societal progression and the optimization of opportunities in order to provide comfort to the citizenry, AYSEN is not against the need to house our security men by the NDC-led-administration, but for the lack of due diligence and the respect of the voice of reason from the minority side in parliament and other stakeholders as evident from the various issues and analysis raised, prior to the signing of this deal.

AYSEN, however, bemoans the walk-out staged by the minority and the growing insignificance of parliament as an institution of high repute in cases such as the GT-Vodafone deal and the recent STX Korean Deal.

Mr. Alban Bagbin, the sector minister intimated how little time our elected parliamentarians get in poring into important national legislative documents and deals when he met the press as a result of the Meet the Press Series of the government, to this we say is unfortunate.

AYSEN, believes that, the passage of the deal is tantamount to casting the destiny of the youth and the entire nation into indirect slavery with little hope of recovery and has what it takes to invoke war between the youth of this nation and the lenders should we default the payment of the loan.

As a result of the inadequacy of time for thorough due diligence, the lack of respect for the voice of reason of stakeholders not portraying the believe in Ghana attitude (Adze wo fie oye) with respect to GREDA in particular, the government not undertaking the project in a pilot basis among others is highly unfortunate.

AYSEN, therefore calls on the government:

1. To take a second look at the agreement in order to articulate minority views into the mainframe decision making body.

2. To revoke the use of sovereignty as a Guarantee.

3. To use the first phase of the project only for a PILOT PROJECT.

4. To engage the GHANA REAL ESTATE DEVELOPERS' ASSOCIATION in the deal.

5. To engage other Civil Society Organizations,stakeholders and the youth in deliberating on the deal in question.


We, therefore call on members of the Council of State, all religious bodies and national house of chiefs to act and again on the Mills-led-NDC-administration to respond before the end of the week, else we the youth shall advice ourselves because this is about generations to come and not partisan politics.



Isaac Batun Ngula
President AYSEN - GHANA

P.P..Johneu......

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