News
Road minister vows to retrieve $30m from foreign contractor for no work done
The Minister of Roads and Highways, Mr. Governs Kwame Agbodza, has registered his displeasure about what he describes as unfair and lopsided contract terms involving a foreign contractor who was paid $30 million for road works after no work done.
The Minister during at interview at Joy fm, a local radio station in Ghana said the contract in question was signed under a suppliers’ credit agreement supported by the Indian Exim Bank.
He noted that such agreements usually allow foreign companies to bring in their own contractors and resources, but expressed concern about the conditions tied to the deal.
According to him, Ghana paid about 20 percent of the contract sum as mobilization to the contractor.
However, he claimed that even on the day a public ceremony was held to mark the start of work, some of the equipment on site did not belong to the contractor, raising concerns about their readiness.
Mr. Agbodza explained that under the agreement, if the contractor raised a second payment request and the government failed to pay within a specified time, the contractor could legally terminate the contract and leave with the funds already paid.
“This particular contract was written in such a way that we paid $30 million, but no work has been done so far. If they do not work up to that value, we will have to get our money back. No amount of meetings or conferences can change that” he said.
The Minister emphasized that while Ghana often entered into turnkey agreements due to limited financial resources, care must be taken to protect the country’s interests in such deals.
He called on professionals involved in the contract process, including lawyers and engineers, to uphold national interest and ensure that agreements signed are fair and beneficial to the country.
Mr. Agbodza stressed that the government would explore all legal means to either recover the funds or compel the contractor to deliver work equivalent to the amount paid.
By: Jacob Aggrey
The Diaspora Affairs Office at the Office of the President has hosted a delegation of African diaspora women who are in Ghana ahead of a planned Presidential Conferment of Citizenship ceremony.
The Director of Diaspora Affairs, Kofi Okyere Darko, explained in a Facebook post that the visit was a gesture of appreciation by the delegation to the Government of Ghana for its continued efforts to reconnect Africans in the diaspora with their ancestral homeland.
He indicated that the ceremony, scheduled for next Monday, will officially grant Ghanaian citizenship to members of the delegation as part of the country’s broader engagement with the African diaspora.
The delegation was led by Erica Bennett, Founder of the Diaspora Africa Forum.
According to Mr Okyere Darko, her years of advocacy have played an important role in strengthening ties between Africa and people of African descent living abroad.
He noted that the group’s journey towards citizenship represents not only a legal process but also a cultural and spiritual return to their roots.
Also present at the meeting was Natalie Jackson, an attorney who is also expected to receive Ghanaian citizenship during the ceremony. She works closely with renowned civil rights lawyer Ben Crump.
Mr Okyere Darko emphasised that Ghana remains committed to strengthening relationships with the African diaspora and promoting unity, identity, and shared heritage among people of African descent worldwide.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Ghana has signed a debt restructuring agreement with the Kingdom of Belgium as part of efforts to restore the country’s economic stability after the financial crisis that hit the nation in 2022 and 2023.
The Minister of Finance, Cassiel Ato Forson, today disclosed that he signed the agreement on behalf of the Government of Ghana.
He explained that Ghana experienced a very difficult period during the crisis, which forced the government at the time to declare a debt default.
However, he indicated that the country is now recovering and witnessing a significant economic turnaround.
According to him, stronger systems are also being put in place to ensure that Ghana does not return to such a situation again.
Dr Forson noted that the agreement with Belgium is the eighth deal Ghana has concluded with countries under the Official Creditor Committee as part of its external debt restructuring programme.
He expressed appreciation to the Government of Belgium for its support and partnership with Ghana during the process.
The Finance Minister thanked Carole van Eyll, Ambassador of Belgium to Ghana, for her role in strengthening relations between the two countries.
The agreement forms part of Ghana’s broader effort to restructure its external debts and stabilise the economy following the crisis.
By: Jacob Aggrey
