Over 400 workers on the Asokwa Interchange project in Kumasi are now jobless. Contractors working on the project laid off the workers citing government’s failure to pay for work done. The project costing $27 Million involves a dual carriage way from Asokwa to Ofori Krom and a construction of an interchange at the Asokwa Timber Gardens. The project which started in 2008 was supposed to have been jointly financed by the governments of Ghana and France, Luv News’ Elton John Brobbey has learnt. But the latter has settled its part of the agreement whiles the government of Ghana is yet to. Management of the South Korean company Shinsuing Engineering and Construction decided to lay off the workers after persistent reminders to government failed to yield positive results. Chairman of the local union, Daniel Adu, broke the news to the workers on Thursday at a meeting, provoking angry chants from the aggrieved workers. He said only a timely response from government will save them from the financial crisis they and their dependants will suffer as a result. Some of the workers narrated to Elton John Brobbey the precarious situation they will face if government does not come to their aid. They have been informed to return next month by which time government may have secured funding for the project but the workers were not impressed. “We all know about Sofo line and we know what is happening there. We are also afraid that when we go home this month, we will be told to stay home maybe three months…We cannot go back to our houses. Some of us have four kids. How are we going to feed them,” Doku lamented. But government in a reaction said it is unaware of the imminent lay-off of the workers and dismissed assertions that government had failed to honour its obligations. According to the Roads and Highways Minister, Joe Gidisu, 50 per cent of the project cost will be borne by the French government and that funding will be used to start the project. He explained it is only last week that the contractors notified the sector ministry about the exhaustion of the first project sum and requested the remaining 50 percent of the Government of Ghana fund to be made available for the completion of the project. “It is only last week that the AFD (project partners) wrote to the Ministry and directly to the Urban Roads to indicate that their contribution and inputs into that project is finished.” “The first certificate of responsibility by the Ghana government is now being processed. There is no arrears to be paid by the contractor in that wise,” he insisted, stating vehemently that the impression being created that the Ghana government has failed to honour its obligation is wrong. He criticised the contractors for not discussing the precarious issues with the Ministry but assured his outfit will immediately intervene to solve the problem. Play the attached audio for excerpts of the interview with Joe Gidisu Story by Nathan Gadugah with additional Files from Joy News.