Concerned Cocoa Road Contractors Association of Ghana is threatening legal action against the government should it refuse to pay monies owed to its members for work done on various roads across the country.
The aggrieved contractors say they have all packed their tools from the field as a result of the frustrations they are going through.
A few hours after President Akufo-Addo declared during the presentation of the state of the nation address on Wednesday, March 8, 2023, that, his administration has built more roads than any other government in Ghana’s 4th Republic, the contractors marched to the Office of Ghana Chamber of Construction Industry to pile pressure on their leadership to caution government.
Chief Executive Officer of Ghana Chamber of Construction Industry, Emmanuel Cherry said the failure of the government to honor a promise to pay contractors by the end of 2022 has increased frustration among members as they are being chased by their creditors, suppliers, and employees.
“Before the close of the year, the Hon. Minister came out promising the entire world that he is going to pay contractors before the end of the year. The year came to an end but no show. As we speak today nothing has happened so contractors are being left in a dilemma and very confused. Now, suppliers, and employees are all over contractors because they thought the promises made by the Honourable Minister has been fulfilled, and that, contractors are trying to run away with their money which is not the case. So the Minister has rather worsened the plight and the case of contractors upon that single pronouncement,” Emmanuel Cherry said.
He said contractors are dying and cannot wait for the government to secure an IMF deal before they are paid.
“Authorities should be proactive, especially the road fund, and do the needful to pay contractors, we can’t wait for IMF money before they come and pay contractors, there is every deduction that is ongoing, we buy fuel on daily bases, we do DVLA renewal on daily bases and there are other deductions like statutory deductions that are ongoing that rake into their account, what are they doing with that money”.
The Chamber is also demanding accountability on the Electronic transaction levy(E-Levy) part of which was promised to service the debt of contractors and award new road contracts.
On the other hand, the Vice Chairman of the Chamber of Construction Industry Nana Opare Kwarfo also Kyidomhene of Aburi Atwiesin, and CEO of Jilcon construction Ltd explained that, somewhere 20th December 2022, cocobod paid between 10 to 15% of the debt owed contractors with the promise to pay the outstanding early this year which has not been fulfilled.
He, therefore, appealed to Cocobod to facilitate payment of the debt to ease tension among contractors.