Gov’t to address arrears for road contractors in Midyear budget review
By: Rebecca Okine
The Deputy Minister of Finance, Thomas Ampem Nyarko, says the upcoming midyear budget review will provide clear details on payments owed to road contractors.
Speaking in a media interview, Mr. Nyarko explained that the government has completed an audit of arrears with support from the Auditor General and leading accounting firms, helping to verify legitimate claims and disallow ineligible ones.
“The Auditor General and the top accounting firms that did the audit have brought reports showing that some amounts are being disallowed,” he said, stressing that only verified arrears will be programmed into the budget.
Mr. Nyarko assured that Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson will present these findings during the midyear budget review, outlining the audited arrears and the government’s plan to clear them.
As part of the 2025 fiscal year, the government has allocated GHS 13 billion to clear arrears and remains committed to this target.
“We are religiously pursuing the GHS 13 billion programmed for this year, and next year’s budget will announce another amount,” he noted.
Looking ahead, Mr. Nyarko announced that the 2026 budget will include provisions to continue arrears payments while ensuring better fiscal discipline to prevent new build ups.
“That is why we are managing the financing carefully and giving commitment authorization so we don’t spend beyond what has been budgeted,” Mr. Nyarko explained.
He also criticized the previous administration for poor fiscal management, which he said led to unsustainable debt and recurring arrears. “If we go the way they did, we’ll be clearing arrears while accumulating new ones,” he added.
