President John Dramani Mahama has directed the Minister of Finance, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, to release GH¢1 billion before Christmas to settle debts owed to contractors since 2017.
He made the announcement yesterday when he cut the sod for two major road projects in the Bono and Ahafo regions.
“I have directed the Finance Minister, Dr Ato Forson, to release GH¢1 billion to settle debts owed to contractors since 2017 before Christmas.
All the contractors will be paid,” he said, and advised families of relevant deceased contractors to follow up to receive the money.
The event marked the commencement of two key projects, namely the rehabilitation of the Sunyani-Atronie and Sunyani-Atronie Junction-Acherensua roads, and the construction of the Sunyani Outer Ring Road.
Key among the roads are the 90-kilometre Wenchi-Nsawkaw-Debibi-Sampa stretch, the 50-kilometre Wenchi-Sawla stretch, and the 32.6-kilometre Techiman-Nkosia-Wenchi stretch.
Others are the 48-kilometre Sunyani-Atronie-Acherensua road, the 80-kilometre Jinijini-Sampa road, the 19-kilometre Bediako Junction-Sefwi-Adabokro stretch, the 39-kilometre Tapa-Goaso road, and the 34-kilometre Sunyani Outer Ring Road project.
President Mahama reflected that during the 2024 campaign, despite the previous government boasting about the construction of over 10,000 kilometres of roads, chiefs and community leaders consistently complained about the deplorable state of their roads.
He stated that this direct experience informed his commitment to the “Big Push” project to construct roads that supported development and boosted economic activities.
He announced that his government had, this year alone, signed road contracts worth GH¢5 billion.
The President said the government had prioritised most deplorable and critical roads, and urged members of the public whose roads were not captured in this year’s programme not to worry since the initiative would continue next year.-END-
