The Minister of Roads and Highways, Mr Kwasi Amoako-Atta, has stated that the previous government left behind a total commitment of GH¢17.8 billion in the road sector.
He said the debt owed to contractors under the Government of Ghana project amounted to GH¢1.1 billion while the debt owed to contractors under the Road Fund was GH¢506 million.
Contributing to the debate on the State of the Nation address delivered by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Mr Amoako-Atta, who is the Member of Parliament (MP) for Atiwa West, stated that the former government worsened the situation when it migrated the Road Fund for a loan at the UBA Bank.
He, therefore, disputed the suggestion that the lack of money for the road sector was because funds were not earmarked for government institutions. Mr Amoako-Atta said as a result of the indebtedness, the current government was struggling to generate money to construct the roads.
But he gave an assurance that the government would work to fix the roads.
Roads in poor condition
Mr Amoako-Atta indicated that only 23 per cent of the 73,000 kilometres (km) of roads in the country were paved, with the rest at the gravel or earth state.
Additionally, only 39 per cent of the roads were considered good, 32 were fair and 29 poor.
The minister said the government would construct trunk and feeder roads this year as they required urgent action.
Debt stock
When he took his turn, the MP for Ho Central, Mr Benjamin Kpodo, took the government on for the astronomical increase in the country's debt stock.
He said in January, 2017, the debt was at GH¢122 billion but it had risen to GH¢139 billion, saying "more borrowing is going on."
Mr Kpodo noted that a lot of the debts were not captured, adding that if all the figures were captured, the total debt could be about GH¢170 billion.
He, therefore, challenged the Minister of Finance, Mr Ken Ofori-Atta, to come out with the outstanding liabilities and present the true state of the country's debt stock.
Source: Graphic.com
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I thought you said you are more competent than mahama? what happened? It is your gross incompetent and your arrogance that is making it difficult to fix the roads. Stop complaining and work
Did ex-president Kufour pay all the debts of Ghana before leaving office?
Were you not the ones who say you are competent to take up the mantle of leadership from incompetent Mahama administration? Now the ball is in your court, so stop whining and find re sources to undertake road project. Complaints can't solve the problems. After all the incompetent administration has been booted out, competent leaders don't complain and murmur, they work hard to bring to realization their programs and projects. This is one problem I have with the current administration, the engage in so much blame game rather than thinking outside the box to solve problems. Even if someone has constipation, they complain it's NDC, meanwhile, you are now in government.
The incompetent and greedy John Ford Mahama and his ev!l NDC left debts in every sector.... School feeding, NHIS, road sector, ECG, VRA, name the rest... NDC must never rule this country again... They are selfish nation wreckers....
this is not Akuffo Addo Uncle. Highly impotent.
attention to martin hamidu and ghana people and state thiefs, , all those mahama ministers and chief director s of government companies who have stolen ghana people monies . issued fake checks and inflated contracts and have been seen will face court, if found guilt will be sentenced, lose their houses, monies, cars and properties, if the do property in the names of their children wives, friends and relative , it will be seized and families prosecuted for aiding and abeting, the looters will pay back the monies with interest, all those who are running away to london , dubai, u,s,,a asia , will be bought back by Interpol,. any place all over the world, they go. ghana people will collect every pesewa from state thiefs, nation looters and anti government people, all those who have stolen poor peoples. children monies, widows monies, sick people monies monies, cars houses must get ready the citizens of ghana will collect every thing and make sure the go to prison for 100years,from poor , worried hungry and concern citizens of ghana
Lies from the do little incompetent npp liars.
NDC took all these monies from $9b in Jan 2009 to $122b in Jan 20017 but still left GHc17b debt in road sector?