The housing project between the government and STX Engineering and Construction Ghana Limited, will create jobs for more than 50,000 local artisans and stimulate the local economy, Vice-President John Mahama has reiterated.
Speaking at a meeting with a delegation from the Korean Parliament at the Castle, Osu yesterday, Vice-President Mahama said per the local content provision in the agreement, about 30 per cent of the contract value would be sub-contracted to Ghanaians.
He said the government was looking forward anxiously for the start of the project, which he said, would also address the accommodation needs of security personnel.
He said the project, would witness the construction of a total of 200,000 housing units over the next five years, 30,000 of which would be allocated to security personnel, to provide them with decent accommodation and boost their morale.
Mr. Mahama informed the delegation of the heated debate in Parliament which preceded the passage of the bill, saying, a process that the deal went through showed the beauty of democracy.
Since his visit to Korea in the early part of the year, the Vice-President observed that relations between Ghana and Korea had moved to a higher level, culminating in the visit of several delegations to Ghana, especially from the energy sector.
He cited on-going talks between the GNPC and the Korean National Oil Company on the possibility of further exploring Ghana's oil potential.
Vice-President Mahama said the country was looking forward to increasing its power generation from about 3,000 MW to 5,000 MW over the next five years and noted the Korean government's collaboration with the Ghana Grid Company to strengthen the country's transmission grid.
Lee Juyoung, leader of the delegation, said it was in the country to look at Korean Overseas Developement Assistance (ODA) to Ghana with a view to reviewing and increasing it.
The delegation is also to promote co-operation and have a shared development relationship, he said, and asked the government to indicate to the delegation specific areas it wants assistance so that it could be factored in future development support.
Mr. Lee lauded the government for its efforts in the realisation of the STX housing project and hoped that it would be consistent with the successful completion of the project.
Mrs. Zita Okaikwei, Minister of Tourism, who accompanied the delegation, said the Korean government had extended financial assistance for the purchase of billboards to educate people about various tourists sites in Ghana.
She said the Koreans have also provided micro loans for women in the she- nut and kente business and were also helping to train tour guides in the North under a Savannah Tourism Project.
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