Most contractors abandon road projects due to debts owed them — Roads Minister

The Minister for Roads and Highways, Governs Kwame Agbodza, has observed that a huge debt owed contractors is largely to blame for the many abandoned road projects across the country.

He said government currently owes contractors about GHS21 billion, making it difficult for them to remain on-site and continue work.

This, coupled with outstanding commitments of over GHS100 billion for contracted works, has left several construction sites deserted.

Updating Ghanaians on road projects on Tuesday, July 8, Mr Agbodza noted that while some contractors may have genuinely refused to work, the majority vacated sites after exhausting their resources without payment for completed works.

“I personally don’t believe contractors leave sites simply because they don’t want to work. In many cases, they are not on site because they’ve worked and not been paid,” he said.

The minister, however, commended those contractors who, despite the debts, have returned to site to continue working.

He also disclosed that by the end of July, government plans to release GHS4 billion as part payment to ease the situation.

“We get distress calls daily from across the country about roads cut off by rains and bridges washed away. Day and night, we call on very patriotic contractors who step in to fix these without any fanfare,” he stated.