Building contractor, Thomas Akwasi Frimpong of Atofis Company Limited, stormed the Old Tafo R/C Basic School in Kumasi on Monday to drive out students from their classrooms to lock the building, claiming government has failed to honour payment for the construction.

He claims to have spent Gh230,000 to pre-finance the construction of the two-story classroom block started in 2008.

He claims to have sold all his property to pay back loans he contracted from the bank to undertake the project, but successive governments have failed to pay him.

Addressing the media after locking up the school, Mr. Frimpong said the students would be allowed to use the facility when the government settles the debt.

"Since 2010 that the student moved into the building till date the government hasn't paid me and I am not going to allow the students to use it," he said. “It's over 14 years now; if government rented wouldn't he have paid? They should pay me, if not the students won't be allowed to study in the building”.

The contractor planned to lock the school in 2021, but some authorities intervened.

“I was waiting for the government to settle me but nothing has been done,” he complained. "I am not doing this because it's an election year. I’m a member of the NPP but now I need my money, enough is enough".