President John Dramani Mahama has moved to ease financial pressure on road contractors and revive stalled public works with a directive for the immediate release of GH¢1 billion to settle long-standing arrears owed by the state.
The payment, which is expected to be completed before Christmas, targets contractors who have executed certified works dating back to 2017 and have struggled for years with unpaid government obligations. The President announced the intervention during the sod-cutting ceremony for the Sunyani–Atronie–Acherensua Road Project in the Bono Region.
According to President Mahama, the decision forms part of broader efforts under the government’s Big Push infrastructure programme to restore confidence in public contracting and accelerate development nationwide. He explained that audits were ongoing to verify outstanding claims, with priority given to properly certified projects undertaken in previous years.
He urged contractors to cooperate fully with the verification process by submitting the required documentation promptly, stressing that delays in payment would largely depend on how quickly claims were regularised.
Beyond settling debts, the President assured that adequate funding had been earmarked to restart abandoned infrastructure projects across the country, describing the initiative as critical to job creation, economic stimulation and improved service delivery.
The Sunyani–Atronie–Acherensua Road Project, he noted, would enhance connectivity and support economic activities in the Bono Region once completed.
The Dormaahene, Osagyefo Oseadeeyo Dr Nana Freduah Agyemang Badu II, welcomed the project and called for effective monitoring to ensure value for money. He cautioned contractors against poor workmanship, urging them to deliver durable roads that would stand the test of time.
President Mahama reaffirmed the government’s commitment to clearing inherited arrears while ensuring that future infrastructure investments are delivered efficiently, transparently and to acceptable standards.
