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Designated Roads Minister Kwasi Amoako-Atta has attributed the late payment of highway contractors to the negative effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on the economy.
According to him, the pandemic affected the mobilization of government revenue to clear arrears owed to contractors on time.
In response to a question posed by the senior member of the Appointments Committee, Haruna Iddrisu, the sector minister, Amoako-Atta assured the committee of the government’s commitment to pay its debt to contractors.
“Mr. President, I will not sit here and say that all contractors have been paid on time, although the government for the past four years has struggled to pay our contractors for the good work they do for the country.
“There are also payments pending and efforts are being made as funds are delivered to the Ministry. But Mr. President, we must not lose sight of the fact of the difficulties that we all go through as a government and as a nation due to the Covid-19 pandemic, “he said.
Amoako Atta, however, denied claims that the government discriminates against some contractors in debt payments to contractors.
He said the Highway Fund is being managed by a trustworthy Board under strong leadership that will ensure fairness prevails.
Commenting on the country’s road network, Amoako-Atta said that approximately 39% of Ghana’s 80,000-kilometer road network is in good condition, with the remaining 61% in need of critical attention.
