The Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing, Alban Bagbin, has stated emphatically that the controversial STX affordable housing project will certainly be executed at all cost. The initial project to construct 30,000 housing units at the cost of 1.5 billion dollars for the security services has been dogged with numerous controversies involving the Korean and Ghanaian partners, thus disrupting all laid down plans for its smooth execution. Almost a year after the deal was signed and ground breaking ceremony held, a single block is yet to be laid to provide accommodation for the security services. Critiques of the project feel vindicated by the developments, after numerous calls on the government not to go ahead with the deal, which they claimed does not give the country value for money, had failed. But the sector Minister is unmoved by the current courtroom wrangling involving the partners, insisting that the project is not dead as being perceived. Alban Bagbin told journalists at a press conference on Thursday, that the government would do everything to ensure that the STX project becomes a reality. “Consistent with this can-do mindset, the government of Ghana remains committed to the need for improved provision of adequate and accessible housing for our people. And we will do everything to make sure that that small component of the STX housing project becomes a reality.” He admitted, later in an interview with Joy News’ Seth Kwame Boateng, that the partners have “some differences”, which he said have prevented the remittance of funds to commence the project. Nevertheless, the Minister seems to find solace in what he calls the "East-Asian mindset" to overcome challenges confronting the STX housing project. He also said a mediation committee constituted by the president, and chaired by him, has concluded its works on the partners, whom, he observed, “disagree on many, many issues.” He was hopeful everything would fall in place to ensure a smooth take-off of the housing project. But Kofi Bentil, a research fellow at IMANI Ghana, who has closely monitored the STX housing deal even before it was laid before parliament, is unimpressed by the Minister’s “metaphorical” East-Asian mindset.