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General News of Friday, July 12, 2019
Source: ghanaiantimes.com.gh
2019-07-12
Some of the entrepreneurs angry at the department
Yesterday, a hundred or so entrepreneurs were besieged by the Ministry of Roads and Roads to demand immediate payment for projects executed on behalf of the government.
Appearing angry, the entrepreneurs who said they were frustrated at not paying the government contracts gave them songs of war and called on the minister, Kwasi Amoako-Atta, to respond to their concerns.
When the Ghanaian Times arrived on the scene, some others, dressed in red banners, accused the minister of "politicizing" with the livelihoods of entrepreneurs and threatened prosecution in court if their demands were not processed urgently.
Some members of the police station of the ministries, who arrived at the scene in time to avoid any unforeseen circumstances, preached calm while protecting the main entrance of the ministry building.
Majeed Yahaya, one of the contractors, told the Ghanaian Times that the group was angry with the government for delaying the payment of contracts executed three to five years ago.
He explained that the delay in payment had paralyzed the activities of some entrepreneurs because of the huge debts they owed to banks and suppliers.
"We have not been paid, which means that our workers have not been paid for all these years, so it's a bit of a chilling effect. Some of us have employees of more than 10 to 15, others more than 100. Workers, banks and suppliers are lobbying. Most of us have debts ranging from 200 000 GH to 30 000 GH and more. These are all contracts that we have done, ranging from asphalt paving to road maintenance and drain construction, "he said.
He said that the government's decision to check all projects before payment was a ploy to hold back the indebted entrepreneurs, stating that "they wanted to save time, there was no report but we have no problem for an audit ".
Mr. Yahaya explained that the government's inability to accelerate payments would result in the demonstration on the part of entrepreneurs and their workers.
Another contractor, Abdul Rashid Issah, alleged that the government paid some contractors and left out because they were seen as members of the main opposition party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
He further claimed that some ministry officials were charging fees before processing contractors' payment information, claiming that "some of us were rejected because we did not accept the percentage of requests from them". .
The chairman of the Ghana Chamber of the Construction Industry, Emmanuel Martey, said that the chamber, which brings together 12 badociations, including the Road Contractors Association, the Ghana Engineer Institute, urged the government to stop moving from new contracts, while the project subcontractors get paid.
He said the chamber would meet next week with the Ministry of Roads and Roads and Finance to discuss the roadmap to speed up payment to entrepreneurs.
He added that the commitment would focus on how the road fund would be disbursed to address contractors' late payments.
In an interview, Winifred Nafisa Mahama, Public Relations Officer (PRO) at the Ministry of Roads and Highways, said that following a request from the Association of Road Contractors of Ghana and other groups, the ministry and other ministries, including Works and Housing, Education and Development. Finance, was to meet the leaders of the groups of subcontractors to find ways to solve the problems of late payment contractors.
The meeting, she said, was postponed until next week because of the hostile environment created by the protesters at the ministry's premises.
She hoped, however, that the meeting would be held as planned next week to find a lasting solution to the concerns of the contractors.
Earlier, the Ghanaian Times saw Deputy Finance Minister Kwaku Kwarteng leave the ministry at the height of the protest.
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