Kwame Governs Agbodza, the Minister-Designate for Roads and Highways, has expressed concern over the state of Ghana’s financial commitments, particularly in the road sector. Speaking during his vetting on Monday, January 20, Agbodza disclosed that the current government is leaving behind a minimum debt obligation of GH¢113 billion, with GH¢20 billion in unpaid certificates.
The most alarming revelation, however, was the interest on the debt, which has surged to GH¢665 million, a significant financial strain attributed to the nature of the contracts underpinning the obligations.
“At the transition committee as of today, the NPP government is leaving a minimum of GH¢113 billion in commitments. What we should be worried about, though, is that in that same document, they are saying that certificates unpaid as of today from the Government of Ghana amount to about GH¢20 billion. More worrying is that the interest on this GH¢113 billion is GH¢665 million due to the nature of the contracts,” Agbodza revealed.
The Minister-Designate stressed the urgent need to address these unpaid certificates and the associated interest rates to alleviate the fiscal burden on the country. He described the situation as a substantial challenge for the incoming administration and a critical issue requiring immediate attention to prevent further economic difficulties.