PPP demands fresh investigation into STX Korea deal

The Progressive People’s Party (PPP) has called for fresh investigations into the abortive STX Korea deal following recent reports of a 100,000 dollar car gift to President Dramani Mahamah by a Burkinabe contractor.

The PPP said it was important the nation opened fresh and independent investigations into the failed housing deal as part of the commitment to fight corruption.

The STX Korea contract sought to build 30,000 housing units in phase one of the proposed 200,000 units project within five years.

The PPP, in a statement copied to the Ghana News Agency on Saturday, said: “The Ford vehicle saga calls for fresh and independent investigations into President Mahama’s role in the abortive STX Korea deal.

“The foreign Burkinabe contractor must face independent investigation and should be banned from participating in all Ghana Government contracts,” the statement said.

“We urged all contractors - Ghanaian or foreign - to take a cue from this and desist from giving so-called gifts to the President, Ministers of State and other government officials,” it said.

“We reiterate our position on the crusade against corruption and call for national support for, as a matter of urgency, the need to separate the Attorney General’s Department from the Ministry of Justice and separate Parliament from the Executive arm of Government.”

A story by Joy FM’s investigative reporter, Manasseh Azure Awuni, indicates that in 2012 President Mahama received a vehicle from Djibril Kanazoe, the Burkinabe contractor, who secured a 650,000 dollar controversial deal to build a security wall at Ghana's Embassy in the Burkina Faso capital, Ouagadougou.

The Minister of Communication, Dr Omane Boamah, issued a statement on Wednesday confirming that President Mahama received the 2010 Ford Expedition model but denied it was linked to the contract in Burkina Faso.

"The said vehicle, which was placed in the vehicle pool at the presidency as per established convention, had nothing to do with the award of the contracts," the statement quoted Dr Boamah as saying.