The Chamber of Construction Industries says the government has begun disbursing about one billion cedis to settle outstanding debts owed to contractors.
Speaking to 3 Business on Monday, 9 February 2026, the Chief Executive Officer of the Chamber, Emmanuel Cherry, welcomed the move but urged the government to speed up the payment process to ease financial pressure on contractors.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Chamber, said payments were being made in phases, with smaller claims already cleared.
“About GH¢10 million out of that portfolio has been cleared, and the process is being done in phases. Phase one has been paid, phase two has also been paid, and now they are in phase three,” he explained.
Emmanuel Cherry, noted that, “As soon as clearance is given, the payments continue. So, you can say the government has started something, while the pace of disbursement was slower than expected, it was still a positive development”
He expressed hope that the total amount allocated to settling contractor arrears would be increased in the coming weeks.
He also told 3business that, “Even though we expected it to be a bit speedier, it is better than nothing at all. The challenge is that the amount is not sufficient, but we have received assurances from the Minister for Roads and Highways that government has made an additional commitment to top up the GH¢1bn,”
Meanwhile, the payments follow an earlier directive from the Presidency for funds to be released ahead of the Christmas period to reduce the growing debt burden in the construction sector. Government arrears to contractors, particularly in the roads and construction sector, have accumulated over several years, leading to project delays, layoffs and mounting debts to banks and suppliers.
Industry players have repeatedly warned that prolonged non-payment threatens the survival of local construction firms and undermines infrastructure development. The current disbursement forms part of broader efforts to stabilise the sector and restore confidence among contractors.
