Contrary to claims by the Ministry of Finance that all outstanding debts owed contractors who embarked on the construction of roads in some cocoa growing areas have been paid, the Association of Road Contractors and the Concerned Road Contractors Association say they are yet to receive any money.
According to the groups, their investigations reveal that management of cocoa roads at COCOBOD have released all the funds, amounting to over $100 million to the Finance Ministry to be given to the over 6,000 contractors but the ministry has failed to release the money.
A copy of a document dated October 8, 2014 signed by the Finance Minister to management of cocoa roads demanded the payment of all outstanding debts to the contractors.
The contractors say details of that document and the claim by Deputy Finance Minister, Cassel Ato Forson, that all debts owed road contractors in the cocoa subsector have been paid, confirms their claims that COCOBOD has released the funds but Government has failed to pay them.
Cassel Ato Forson, had claimed in an interview with Adom FM's Morning Show host, Captain Smart that government has paid all outstanding debts owed these contractors.
Executive member of the Concerned Road Contractors Association, Nana Agyenim Boateng, told Joy News the claim by the deputy minister is false.
Mr Boateng further said the deputy Minister refused to grant them audience when they approached him to demand an explanation.
"We went to Ato Forson and he told us he was busily drafting the 2015 budget so he would attend to us later only to hear him state on Adom FM later that government has paid all outstanding debts to us, which is not true", he explained.
He explained that members of the Association are being sought after by banks and other creditors, adding that the development has put them in a very difficult situation.
"Our creditors are chasing us for their money because they've heard we have been paid by government", Mr Boateng lamented.
The Association called on the President to as a matter of urgency intervene to rectify the situation.
"We know the President may not be aware that we have not been paid. We are much aware of some inner mafia at the Ministry working for their own interest", he said.
They threatened to take action against Government if it fails to honour its part of the agreement.
"'We will advise ourselves if they refuse to pay the money" Nana Agyenim told Joy News Kofi Siaw.
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