The Ghana Chamber of Construction Industries says the increasing number of demonstrations by citizens to demand good roads is a step in the right direction.
The chamber contends that the government must pay contractors to resume work on deplorable roads.
This comes on the back of a series of protests by the public for good roads, with the most recent one being held by the chiefs and people of Nyankrom, Abuesi, and Shama in the Western Region on July 4.
In an interview with Citi News, the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Chamber of Construction Industries, Emmanuel Cherry, said, “The demonstrations are a step in the right direction because citizens have the right to benefit from the projects. They pay taxes just like the rest of Ghanaians. If President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, through his Roads and Highways Minister, has awarded contracts, then the government needs to find the necessary funding to complete those projects.
“If the projects have not been completed and the contractor has abandoned the site, then the burden falls on the communities to demand their pound of flesh. We are even expecting more of these protests. Let the various communities rise up and demonstrate to the government that they are not happy and that they want to benefit from the year of roads and the national cake.”
Cherry called on the government to pay contractors to complete abandoned road projects. He stressed that the government owes road contractors in excess of GH¢16 billion, which must be paid.
“The government owes over GH¢16 billion as we speak. Attempts have been made to pay some of it, and a list has been compiled and forwarded to the Finance Ministry. As of now, we have not heard anything untoward. We are hopeful that the list will be paid according to the first-come, first-served principle,” Cherry said.