By Iddi Yire, GNA
Accra, April 25, GNA – The Government has cleared all outstanding payments owed to road contractors operating under the Big Push programme across the country, Mr Kwami Governs Agbodza, the Minister of Roads and Highways, has disclosed.
The Minister made the disclosure during President John Dramani Mahama’s inspection tour of the ongoing dualisation of the 30km Kasoa-Winneba Road in the Central Region.
“Your Excellency, a cardinal point of the project you are inheriting both your new Big Push project and the carry-on project is that as of today, every contractor who has raised a work certificate on either an ongoing Big Push project or a new Big Push project has been settled,” Mr Agbodza stated.
“We are not only paying big push contractors, but we are also paying all the contractors as much as we can.”
The Kasoa-Winneba Road dualisation project, which is being executed by Nag Fairmount Company Limited is expected to be completed either by the end of this year or by the end of the first quarter of 2027 includes asphaltic surfacing, pedestrian footbridges, underpasses, and a flyover to improve safety and mobility.
Mr Agbodza noted that in the past other Presidents would have walked away from the project “saying that they didn’t start it”.
He said President Mahama however, directed that no road project he inherited should be suspended.
The Minister said as of last month President Mahama had paid over GH¢12 billion to projects he inherited.
He said President Mahama’s believe in the Ghanaian contractor to be able to fix the nation’s roads was unwavering.
“We can say that the bulk of your investment in road infrastructure goes to the Ghanaian contractor, the Ghanaian worker,” Mr Agbodza said.
The Minister said he was grateful to the Contractor for assuring that within three weeks, a section of the Kasoa-Winneba Road would be open to traffic.
“I hear the contract period ends in March 2027. We are working with the contractor to actually complete this project by the 31st of December this year (three months or four months) ahead of schedule and the contractor is committed to doing that,” he said.
The Minister said they appreciate the fact that people using this corridor go through a certain level of frustration, especially during weekends; saying, “But help is on the way”.
Mr Agbodza expressed gratitude to President Mahama for his commitment to make sure that in their lifetime Ghana’s road network could see the highest and the biggest investment ever.
GNA
Edited by Linda Asante Agyei