Make timely payment if a contractor delivers quality work on time - Roads Minister urged

Emmanuel Cherry, CEO of the Ghana Chamber of Construction Industries, has made a request. He urged the Ministry of Roads and Highways to balance enforcement of construction standards with timely payments to contractors.

His comments follow recent statements from Roads Minister Kwame Governs Agbodza. The Minister reaffirmed his commitment to hiring only qualified contractors. He warned that there would be serious consequences for those who do not meet standards.

In an interview on Channel One news, Mr. Cherry expressed his concerns. He said it is unnecessary for the Minister to repeatedly warn contractors about termination and non-payment. Such measures are already included in contractual agreements.

Mr. Cherry emphasized fairness in the process. He noted that the Ministry must also fulfill its obligations when contractors perform well. Contractors should not face delays in compensation for their work and investments.

He pointed out that delayed payments hurt many contractors' operations. Some contractors pre-finance projects with loans under tight deadlines.

“If the minister says he won’t pay for shoddy work, that’s already in the contract,” he stated. “He doesn’t need to keep repeating it.”

He added that if a contractor delivers quality work, they deserve timely payment as well.