Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has urged the government to reconsider its payment methods for road contractors to address the issue of abandoned road projects due to financial challenges.

This concern was brought up by the Asantehene during a courtesy visit by the new Minister for Roads and Highways, Francis Asenso Boakye, at the Manhyia Palace on Monday, March 18.

“It is not good to hold contractors up in waiting when it comes to payment. Put measures in place to deal with these incidents as you take over.”

“When I heard about your visit, I intentionally went to take a look at the Kuntenase road. I realised at a point that the road was very bad and I noticed it had been awarded to a contractor but he was not on site and I realised it was due to payment," he revealed.

He proposed the adoption of a phased payment system to provide contractors with consistent financial stability, enabling them to meet project deadlines effectively.

Highlighting the critical role of road infrastructure in Ghana's socioeconomic development, the Asantehene emphasized the Ministry of Roads and Highways' responsibility to prioritize the construction and rehabilitation of essential road networks nationwide.

He stressed the importance of timely payments to contractors to address their ongoing challenges and ensure the quality and durability of road projects.

In December 2023, the Concerned Cocoa Road Contractors in Ghana held an emergency meeting to deliberate and strategize on addressing the ongoing challenge of delayed payments, accumulating to a debt of Ghc4 billion owed by COCOBOD.