Road maintenance contractors across the country have threatened to stage a nationwide protest over the government’s failure to settle outstanding payments owed to them for work executed over the past six years.
The contractors, operating under the umbrella of the Road Contractors Association of Ghana, say the prolonged delay in payments has crippled their businesses, forced many companies into debt and left several workers unemployed.
Speaking at a press conference in Accra, the association’s leadership accused successive governments of neglecting contractors despite their continued contribution to maintaining roads across the country.
According to the contractors, some members have not received payment since 2019 for routine and periodic maintenance works carried out on behalf of the government.
“We have exercised patience for years, but the situation has become unbearable,” a spokesperson for the association stated during the briefing.
The contractors warned that if the government fails to present a clear payment roadmap within a reasonable time frame, they would have no option but to embark on demonstrations and suspend maintenance works nationwide.
They explained that many contractors are currently unable to service bank loans obtained to finance road projects, while equipment suppliers and workers are also demanding unpaid monies.
Several members of the association claim that interest on loans has accumulated over the years due to delayed payments, pushing some companies close to collapse.
The group further lamented that despite repeated engagements with the Ministry of Roads and Highways and other relevant agencies, little progress has been made in resolving the issue.
“We are suffering. Some contractors have lost their equipment, some have lost properties, and many workers have been laid off because the government has failed to pay for completed work,” the association said.
The contractors also warned that continued neglect of road maintenance could worsen the condition of many roads nationwide, especially during the rainy season.
