The STX Ghana National Housing Project deal which was slated to be signed on Monday, September 20, between the Government of Ghana and STX Engineering and Construction Ghana Limited could not come off.
Two and half hours after the media had set up their equipment in the well decorated conference room of the Vice President in readiness for the event, Mr James Agyenim-Boateng, Deputy Minister of Information, flanked by Mr John Jinapor, spokesperson for Vice President John Dramani Mahama, and Mr Stanislov Dogbe, a presidential Aide, came to announce the cancellation of the programme.
Mr Agyenim-Boateng attributed the cancellation to what he termed 'Legal issues that could not be resolved immediately at the last meeting before the ceremony.'
According to the Deputy Minister, 'certain legal issues cropped up at the eleventh hour and that under the circumstances "we were compelled to cancel the signing until we receive advice from the Attorney -General's Department where we have referred the issues to."
He regretted that the programme which had received 'massive' media coverage could not be signed, but expressed the hope that it would finally be signed in the shortest possible time.
Mr Agyenim-Boateng who was tight-lipped on the nature of the legal issues said "everything has been referred to the Attorney-General's Department and we are sure that an amicable solution will be made for the deal to be signed."
Earlier on, Ministers of State, Heads of Security Agencies, the Media and staff of the STX Ghana and a few building contractors had thronged the conference room of the Vice President to witness the signing of the $10.5 billion housing project that is supposed to empower government to provide 200,000 housing units for the security Agencies and other public sector workers.