The Concerned Cocoa Road Contractors in Ghana has urgently summoned its members to an emergency meeting scheduled for Wednesday, 6th December 2023.
The primary agenda for this critical gathering is to discuss the persisting challenges surrounding delayed payments from the government and to collectively plan a course of action.
The call for this emergency meeting comes as a culmination of previous attempts by the contractors to seek resolution through petitions to various authorities, yielding no tangible results.
On March 4, 2023, members submitted a formal petition to the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, expressing profound concerns about COCOBOD’s lackadaisical approach in settling interim certificates, accumulating a substantial debt totaling Ghc4 billion over the past three years.
This was after several actions failed .
On August 8, 2022 for instance ,the contractors issued a statement demanding prompt payment of their debt with 21-day ultmatum to Cocobod but the intervention of the Ghana Chamber of Contractors temporarily calmed the situation.
However, in December 2022, only a meager 5% to 10% of the outstanding debts were settled, accompanied by assurances that the remaining amount would be paid in full by February.
Unfortunately, as of the current date, no further payments have been forthcoming.
The emergency meeting slated for December 6, 2023, at the Festa Royal Hotel in Accra, is designed to address the persistent delays in payments and formulate a united strategy for the concerned contractors.
The leadership of Concerned Cocoa Road Contractors is fervently urging all members to attend, underscoring the critical importance of unity and coordinated planning to bring about a swift and equitable resolution.
This meeting is seen as a crucial juncture for the contractors to voice their concerns, strategize collectively, and reinforce a united front in pursuit of justice.
Due to government indebtedness, many cocoa road projects have stalled as the contractors have left site.
The situation has led many roads to farming communities deteriorate affecting transportation of farm produce to market centers.
Source : Mybrytfmonline.com/Obed Ansah
