President Mahama warns contractors against delays in 24-hour market projects
President John Dramani Mahama has warned contractors handling the government’s 24-hour market projects against delays, insisting that companies awarded the contracts must have the financial capacity to commence work.
According to President Mahama, government expects contractors to use their own resources to begin construction rather than wait for mobilisation payments before starting work.
He made the remarks during an inspection of the ongoing 24-hour market project at Nadowli-Kaleo in the Upper West Region as part of his two-day Resetting Ghana Tour.
President Mahama said some project sites had experienced delays because contractors who won the contracts lacked the financial capacity to begin construction.
He noted that the government had deliberately selected companies it expected to have the financial muscle to commence work and subsequently receive payments based on progress.
“Once a contractor reaches 15 per cent completion, payment is made, and the work continues until the project is finished,” he said.
The President stressed that funds were available to pay contractors who achieved the required level of completion, adding that there was therefore no justification for contractors to delay their projects.
“The money is available, so there is no reason why any contractor should fail to advance the work to this stage,” he said.
President Mahama commended the contractor working on the Nadowli market for making good progress and urged other contractors undertaking similar projects across the country to follow the example.
The government is constructing 24-hour markets in all 261 constituencies as part of efforts to expand trading opportunities, strengthen local economies and provide farmers with reliable outlets for their produce.
President Mahama said the markets would particularly benefit farmers producing commodities such as pepper, onions and maize by providing them with spaces to display and sell their goods.
He said the projects were therefore important to the economic development of communities and urged contractors to work diligently to ensure their timely completion.
The President further assured the people of Nadowli that government would return to commission the completed market together with traditional leaders and other stakeholders.
