Emmanuel A. Cherry, Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Chamber of Construction Industry, has revealed that the Government of Ghana currently owes road contractors a massive GH₵32 billion.
He made the disclosure during an interview on GhOne TV’s ‘NewsTonight’ program, expressing deep concerns over the government’s failure to meet payment commitments.
Mr. Cherry highlighted that President John Dramani Mahama had pledged to clear payments owed to contractors by the end of July 2025.
However, the deadline passed without any substantial payments, which Mr. Cherry described as a damaging credibility issue for the government.
“The promise made by His Excellency to pay contractors before the end of July has elapsed with nothing to show. This clearly highlights a challenge with the government’s credibility,” he stated
According to Mr. Cherry, while some contractors like Maripoma Enterprise Limited have been paid after community pressure and demonstrations led by groups such as the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) and the media, many others remain unpaid.
He questioned the sustainability of government operations if payments continue to be made only under public pressure.
“What about others? Should we do the same thing? If that happens, can the President have the peace of mind to govern the country?,” he asked.
Breaking down the debt, Mr. Cherry outlined that the government owes GH₵21 billion under the Government of Ghana budget, GH₵7 billion from the Road Fund, and GH₵4.2 billion related to cocoa roads, summing to approximately GH₵32.2 billion owed to contractors across various sectors.
He stated“As we speak now, the Government of Ghana (GoG) owes GH₵21 billion, the Road Fund owes GH₵7 billion, and Cocoa Roads owe GH₵4.2 billion.
The host seeks clarity by asking, ‘So that sums up to GH₵32.2 billion, that’s the amount owed to contractors as of today?’
He firmly responded, stating, ‘Exactly.’
When asked about the government’s plans to resolve this massive debt, Mr. Cherry explained that the Finance Ministry has instructed the Ministry of Roads and Highways to initiate payments.
He explained “The government, through the Ministry of Finance, has given instructions to the Ministry of Roads and Highways. The minister has obliged, and as we speak, some payments have already been made for Government of Ghana projects. However, because the debt portfolio is quite huge and alarming, and the government may not be able to raise the full funding required to pay it all at once, there will be negotiations.
Mr Cherry continued, “The government is currently undertaking these negotiations, which is appreciated. Therefore, if your payment certificate is GH₵600 million, at least there will be a negotiated figure to be paid in installments.”
He emphasized that the Chamber is not demanding immediate full payment, understanding the government’s funding constraints and the risk of causing operational disruptions if the government attempts to pay everything at once.
Mr. Cherry underscored the need for a manageable payment plan that balances contractors’ needs and the government’s capacity.
“That is what we expect the government to do for us. We are not saying the President should pay everything at once because if that happens and proper care is not taken, the government machinery will come to a halt, which we do not want to see. We are all abiding citizens and understand how the governance structure operates,” Mr. Cheery added.
