Local Contractors To Gov’t: The Situation Is Becoming Very Bad; Pay Us Our Money Else ……[Audio]

The Ghana Chamber of Construction Industry has threatened to take legal action against government, for failing to pay over 10 billion cedis accrued debt it owes contractors.

The contractors lament that for over four years now, government has stalled in paying contractors for work done. A situation they say is having a negative toll on both businesses and their personal lives.

Speaking at a Press Conference in Accra, the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Chamber of Construction Industries, Emmanuel Cherry says their members will resort to the courts to compel government to pay them.

“Approximately 10 billion Ghana cedis is in arrears as we speak. We are even being charitable with the figure. If we should log altogether with the interest upon the interest of delayed payment, it will be more than this honestly speaking. So just imagine, government owing contractors just debt portfolio, and see what it can do for the economic fibre of the country. So people are crying that there’s no money because the government has failed to pay contractors”.

The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Chamber of Construction Industries, Emmanuel Cherry further stated that “if our chairman is threatening that we’ll take legal action against government, it is because of this. We have waited for too long and the time has come”.

The Chamber is also demanding that government makes an account to Ghanaians on how much of the proceeds from the Elevy has been invested into infrastructure development

Also, Ghana Chamber of Construction Industry (GhCCI) Chairman Surv. Emmanuel T. Martey in an interview with, Obuoba Ofori Amanfo, Ahenkan FM’s ‘Maakye’ morning host , he says the government’s failure to pay arrears owed its members, is having a toll on their operations.

He said that the long-lasting delay in payment to local contractors is crippling the industry and leading to job losses.

“The situation is becoming very bad. Because of government’s inability to pay, the debt portfolio of our industry keeps increasing on a daily basis and at the same time, making the contractors, consultants and suppliers poorer. Our contractors are losing their value, pride and integrity.”

listen to the interviews below