The National Executive Council (NEC) of the Association of Road Contractors (ASROC), Ghana, has disclosed that its attention has been drawn ...
The National Executive Council (NEC) of the Association of Road Contractors (ASROC), Ghana, has disclosed that its attention has been drawn to a recent statement by the Honourable Minister of Roads and Highways, Mr. Kwasi Amoako Atta to the effect that government does not owe road contractors in the country. NEC therefore considers the Minister’s statement most unfortunate as the facts on the grounds do not support the Minister’s assertion on the matter.
A press statement issued by the NEC on Wednesday, 22nd January, 2020 and signed by the Executive Secretary of ASROC, Mr. Kwaku A. Nuamah, noted that as at October, 2019, contractors were owed approximately Ghc2.6 billion by the Ghana Road Fund (GRF) and Ghc1.2 billion on Government of Ghana (GOG) projects not to mention the indebtedness of government at the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD).
According to Mr. Nuamah, government, through the sector ministry notified the contractors of an arrangement for a consortium of Banks led by Fidelity Bank to advance Ghc2.2 billion to the industry with instructions to the GRF to fully redeem outstanding payments in the range of Ghc1 and Ghc500.
Further instructions, the Executive Secretary said were issued for the GRF to redeem forty (40) percent of all amounts above Ghc500, adding that as at December, 2019, some Contractors had been paid these amounts.
The Association therefore finds it intriguing how the payment of 40 percent of indebtedness could be construed to mean full payment.
ASROC is therefore demanding that the Road Fund Management Board (RFMB) should, without any further delay, come out with the facts in order to correct the unfortunate impression created by the Minister’s statement in relation to the outstanding road contractors’ payments.
The statement which was copied to all Media Houses and Regional Chairmen of ASROC, also urged the media to discharge their role by helping to establish the truth of the Minister’s clams. This, the statement concluded, the media could do by asking the RFMB to comment on the matter in order to set the records straight.
source: Akukorku Media Cunsult
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