Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Chamber of Construction Industries, Emmanuel Cherry, has responded to recent tough talk from Roads and Highways Minister Kwame Governs Agbodza, saying that while the government’s demand for quality construction is justified, it must be matched by a commitment to pay contractors promptly for work well done.
Speaking on Channel One’s Newsroom on Sunday, April 20, Cherry noted that the contractual clauses the minister referred to—such as termination for shoddy work—are already standard in agreements and do not require public emphasis.
“If the minister says poor work won’t be paid for, that’s already stipulated in the contract,” Cherry pointed out. “What’s equally important is that the same energy should be applied when it comes to paying contractors who deliver quality work.”
Cherry highlighted that payment delays remain one of the most crippling issues facing contractors, many of whom pre-finance government projects with bank loans and operate under tight financial constraints.
“The reality is that contractors take loans, sometimes at very high interest rates, to execute government projects. If payments are delayed, it doesn’t just affect their business—it affects jobs, timelines, and overall project delivery,” he said.
He called for a balanced enforcement of contract terms, urging the Roads Ministry not to punish compliant contractors through bureaucratic bottlenecks or financial neglect.
Cherry’s comments come amid the Mahama administration’s renewed efforts to improve road infrastructure and clamp down on poor-quality construction, with the Roads Minister warning that non-performing contractors would face termination and blacklisting.
The Chamber, however, is making it clear: contractors are ready to meet quality expectations—provided the government meets its financial obligations too.
