The Ghana Chamber of Construction Industry has sounded the alarm over mounting financial pressure on local contractors, revealing that the government owes GHS21 billion for completed road and infrastructure projects — a debt that is choking liquidity and stalling progress.
According to Emmanuel Cherry, Chief Executive Officer of the Chamber, while the full financial commitments in the road sector under the previous administration have now been confirmed at GHS105 billion, the most immediate concern is the unpaid GHS21 billion for works already delivered on the ground.
“These are not just promises or future contracts — this is work that has been done. Contractors have completed roads, bridges, and other key infrastructure and are now hanging in the balance,” Cherry said in an interview on Channel One Newsroom on Sunday, April 20.
He warned that without an urgent release of funds, many contractors risk layoffs, shutdowns, or even collapse, with ripple effects across the supply chain — from labourers and engineers to suppliers of cement and fuel.
Initial discussions during the Roads and Highways Minister’s vetting revealed GHS100 billion in legacy commitments, but updated budget figures have now pegged the total at GHS105 billion. Available funding, however, is estimated at just GHS20 to GHS25 billion, far short of what’s needed.
“We are not even talking about new projects — we’re talking about debt for executed works. This is a serious liquidity crisis for the industry,” Cherry said.
He stressed that unlocking payments to contractors would not only stabilize the sector but also serve as an economic stimulus, driving employment, growth, and continuity in infrastructure delivery.
The Chamber is urging the government to prioritize payment of the GHS21 billion, calling it the most critical intervention needed to keep the construction sector afloat.
“If the government wants contractors to return to site and continue unfinished work, it must first honour what has already been done,” Cherry emphasized.
The Chamber’s appeal adds to growing pressure on policymakers to restructure infrastructure financing and avoid the build-up of unsustainable commitments that paralyze key sectors.
