Chairman and Deputy Ranking member of the Roads and Transport Committee in charge of road projects, claim they have no idea about the just halted Oforikrom-Asokwa Bypass project which started in 2008. Chairman of the Committee Michael Coffie Boampong said in an interview with Adom News that, the project was signed by former committee members under the Kufuor administration and that they are not aware of the contents in the agreement. Meanwhile, over 400 workers employed in the construction works in Kumasi are said to be jobless following a decision by the contractor to lay them off due to government’s failure to pay for the work done so far. The French government supported the Government of Ghana by paying for 75 per cent of the project cost. The move to lay off the workers was taken by Management of South Korean Shinsiung Engineering and Construction after persistent reminders to government to release funds failed to yield positive results. However, Mr. Boampong claimed that nobody had petitioned the committee so they cannot take a decision on the issue. “If they petition us or the speaker fine, then we will look into the matter. Don’t be surprised if I have not heard because I can’t be listening to all the radio stations because they are many,” he stated. Meanwhile, the Minister of Roads and Highways, Mr. Joe Gidisu has refuted reports that Government had failed to pay its part of the contract. In an interview with our sister station, Joy FM he stated that government had no arrears to pay. “It was only last week that they (the contractors) wrote directly to the Urban Roads indicating that contribution into the project finished and government's responsibility in that direction is now being processed. There are no arrears to be paid to the contractor by government in that wise,” he stated. Story by Maame Esi Nyamekye Thompson/Adom News/Ghana