‘Pay us and stop the many promises’ – Road contractors tell government

Road contractors who are being owed by the government are unhappy the government cannot be consistent on how to settle its debt which is to the tune of about 2.8 billion cedis.

The call of the Association of Road Contractors (ASOROC) comes a day after Roads and Highways Minister, Kwesi Amoako-Atta announced that government has released 3.5 billion cedis to clear arrears.

Minister for Roads and Highways, Kwasi Amoako-Atta, who announced this when he took his turn at the meet the press series, also disclosed that plans were far advanced for the resumption of cocoa road projects which was suspended when the NPP government assumed office.

However, speaking on Ete Sen on Radio XYZ 93.1 Wednseday morning, the Greater Accra Regional Chairman of the Association of Road Contractors, Mr Stephen Kwaku Attatsi stated the government has been giving numerous promises of clearing the debt, but they turn out to be mere lip service.

He said they were given a similar promise in December 2018 yet none of his members were paid, but were rather told to auction their certificates to Fidelity Bank Ghana Limited for funds.

Mr Attatsi said although they were yet to receive an official announcement from the government, the National Executive Council of the Association had scheduled a meeting to discuss the matter.

“We have not received anything [but] the NEC will meet today…and come out with our concerns,” he added.



Although the government has paid over 2.2 billion of the funds in arrears, the delay in settling the outstanding debt is affecting the construction industry, according to the contractors.

Mr Attatsi, who is also the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Supreme Bird investments Limited, disclosed how his bankers were chasing him and other road contractors to repay loans they took to embark on the projects because the government had failed to settle the arrears after numerous promises.