Government is said to be owing road contractors about 1.6 billion Ghana cedis in funds for road maintenance alone.
Chairman of Association of Road Contractors (ASROC), Daniel Attoh Agroh who revealed this said, the debt is due to the award of enhanced projects by government in 2016 which run into billions of cedis.
He also added that, there is still an outstanding GH₵ 15 billion worth project to be done.
Mr. Agroh disclosed this at the inauguration of 10 new regional chairmen to take up roles as leaders of road contractors in their respective regions in Accra.
Some members who were inaugurated include, Mr. Stephen K. Attatsi (Greater Accra region), Mr. Oscar Kwasi Frimpong (Ashanti region), Mr. Paul Yaw Fosu (Brong Ahafo region), Mr. Emmanuel Swanzy-Krah (Western region), Alhaji Kasimu Mohammed (Eastern region).
Over their four years’ tenure of office, the regional chairmen are expected to strive to work hard to manage the many challenges of road contractors in their areas.
The National Chairman of the Association, Daniel Attoh Agroh led the newly elected regional chairmen to take the oath of office.
He admonished the Regional Chairmen to work hard for the benefit of the ASROC and the entire citizenry.
Mr. Agroh stated that although their industry is faced with many challenges he is hopeful the newly elected will sail through.
“Getting a position is very easy but assuming and working to leave a mark, that’s the most important thing. We all want positions but we don’t want to work to leave a mark and I hope this time around all of us will try our best to leave this Association stronger and stronger” he said
Other members who were sworn in to office are, Mr. Joseph Nkrumah Hagan (Central region), Mr. S.O. Anang (Volta region), Alhaji Abdul-Rahman Abdulai (Upper West region), Philip Azumah (Upper East region), Alhaji Iddrisu Abdulai( Northern region).
Speaking exclusively with Adomonline.com, the newly elected Greater Accra regional chairman, Mr. Stephen Attatsi cautioned Ghanaians to desist from practices that destroy roads in both the rural and urban centers.
“I would like to advice the road users, the way we are cutting the road in the community; it’s better we teach our children how we cross the road, it’s better we teach ourselves” he said.
During the ceremony, a Project Transformation Funding (PTF) service was introduced to members of ASROC by the Eclipse Collateral and Advisory Services. The PTF allows for real estate developers, contractors and businesses undertaking infrastructural development projects to easily access funds to complete their projects.
According the CEO of Eclipse Collateral and Advisory Services, Mr. Kafui Amegah the PTF has come to help contractors to alleviate the stress they have to go through in sourcing funds for their projects.
He says their initiative will help government complete various regional and national projects.
“ We are working hand in hand with a company that is trying to bring in numerous huge sums of money to be able to come help these contractors also to help government to complete projects and then to make our roads free of accidents and then give us a healthy travelling atmosphere.”
With the PTF program, for businesses to qualify for a facility, there is no need for a guarantor, no interest payment on the facility, no scheduled payment plan and collateral. TU-E Capital Limited will act as a guarantor to settle any bank charges where they will be utilizing the return earned from the weekly trade program (PIP) using Fixed Deposit certificate with the banks.