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Mr. Kwesi Amoako Atta – Minister of Roads and Highways
Yesterday, some road contractors have gathered in the premises of the Ministry of Roads and Highways to demand the payment of sums due to them during the last three years.
The contractors, who said they had executed contracts such as routine maintenance, construction of drains, cocoa roads and paving, complained that they had not done so. have not been paid since 2016.
They wore red stripes on their arms and head, they chanted and shouted "We need our money", "Our bankers are chasing us", "A late payment kills us", "The government must act now", between others in the most inflexible case. effort to engage the government on their problem.
They said that they had been cornered because the delay with which they had been paid had threatened them and their families.
They invaded the premises of the Ministry of Roads and Roads around 11:00 am and stayed there for about three hours, insisting that they would not leave until they received a concrete roadmap for their work. a government payment plan.
The presence of police personnel deployed to prevent possible violence did not scare the aggrieved contractors to express their anger and frustration over the sector minister.
At one point, the contractors gathered around the reception to demand that the Minister of the Sector, Mr. Kwesi Amoako Atta, come and talk to them.
concerns
Later, the group's leaders, who have since reconstituted themselves in the Ghana Chamber of Construction Industries (GCCI), held an in camera meeting with officials from the ministries of roads and roads and finance, while the other members remained on the outside.
Some of the entrepreneurs accused the government of being hidden behind an alleged audit of road contracts to delay the payment of their money.
They alleged that the government was selectively paying contractors.
Addressing journalists after the closed meeting, GCCI President Emmanuel Martey explained that no concrete agreement had been reached because the meeting had been postponed to the week. next.
"We were told that a cabinet subcommittee had been set up to review the payment of our funds." We expressed our concerns, namely simply the need for a roadmap for the payment of the sums due.
"Our people have a legitimate concern because they work and are not paid and engineers, metiers, carpenters, workers and their banks put pressure on them." If the government does not pay them, they can not pay these people.
"We are not begging for money, but we want to be paid for what we have worked for," he said.
Regarding the allegation of its members that the government would have been selective in the payment of money owed to entrepreneurs, Mr. Martey said that evidence was gathered from members to plead their case.
Ministry Response
Ms. Winifred Nafisa Mahama, Chief of General Affairs of the Ministry of Roads and Highways, stated that she could not disclose any information on the issues discussed during the meeting with the leaders of the GCCI and the heads of the two ministries.
"A meeting has been postponed until next week, we will confirm the exact date on Friday and we will communicate it to them," she said.
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