The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Chamber of Construction Industry, Emmanuel Cherry, has revealed that contractors working on inherited road projects under the government’s flagship Big Push initiative are facing delays in payment, despite assurances of improved funding mechanisms.
Speaking on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem, Mr. Cherry acknowledged that the policy framework of the Big Push programme appears sound, particularly with regard to newly awarded contracts.
However, he stressed that contractors handling older, repackaged projects continue to experience financial strain due to delayed payments.
“Sincerely, when we talk about the Big Push, the Minister is right that money has been made available for payment of all the projects. Within a period of one month maximum, if you raise a certificate, it will be funded. That is a plus on the Big Push Programme,” he stated.
Despite this, Cherry pointed to a growing disparity between newly initiated projects and inherited ones that have been absorbed into the programme.
According to him, while contractors executing fresh Big Push contracts are being paid promptly upon certification of completed work, those working on legacy projects are struggling to receive payment.
“For some of the inherited projects that have been repackaged and migrated into the Big Push, the payment is not forthcoming. Information reaching us indicates that most of them are struggling to get payment,” he revealed.
He explained that the situation is creating uncertainty within the construction sector, particularly for contractors who had already committed resources to projects before their transition into the Big Push framework.
“The new Big Push contracts have been paid once you are done with your work and you raise the certificate, except when you do shoddy work. That is where the challenge is,” Cherry added.
The Chamber, he noted, is seeking urgent engagement with the Roads and Highways Minister, who is currently on a nationwide tour inspecting projects, to address the situation and push for clearer payment structures.
“The Minister is currently on a tour inspecting projects, so we would engage him when he returns so we find ways to see how best contractors can be paid because we need clarity,” he said.
Cherry emphasised the need for fairness and inclusivity in the implementation of the initiative, urging government to ensure that contractors handling inherited projects are not sidelined.
“We are all Ghanaian professionals and must be treated fairly because we are all interested in the upgrade of our roads,” he stressed.
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