Pupils and teachers of the Kukuom SDA Junior High School in the Asunafo South District of Ahafo Region had the shock of their lives when the Contractor who built the classroom locked up the facility.
The action of the Contractor, Joyway Wadada & Sons limited, followed the failure of the Asunafo District Assembly to complete payment for the construction of the 3 Unit-classroom block.
On September 21, 2020 the Asunafo District Assembly awarded GHc 271,000 3-Unit Classroom block to Joyway Wadada & Sons Limited. The Contractor had six months to complete the project and handover.
Speaking to The Chronicle on phone, the Chief Executive Officer of Joyway Wadada & Sons Limited, Nana Emmanuel Appia-Gyei said the assembly awarded his company the contract to construct the 3-unit classroom block for the Kukuom SDA JHS with a contract sum of GHc271, 000.
“The assembly awarded my company the contract to build the 3-unit classroom block on September 21, 2020 with GHc271,000 as the contract sum and we were given six months to complete”, he said.
According to the contractor, although the project was completed and handed over to assembly in May 2022, the district authority still owed him over GHc171, 000.
“We completed the project and handed it over to the assembly in May this year and we received part payment of GHc100,000”, he said and added that “the assembly still owed me over GHc171, 000”.
The agitated Contractor said all attempts to get the assembly to complete payment for the project have failed.
“Since the project completion and handing over, we have made several appeals to the assembly to pay the remaining contract amount but the assembly has refused”, he said.
The Contractor said suppliers have been on his neck for their monies because they believe the assembly has made full payment for the project.
“My suppliers have been pestering me for their monies and the situation is becoming unbearable”, he said.
According to Nana Appia-Gyei, the only option left for him was to lock up the classroom block to send a signal to his creditors that he has not been paid and also compel the assembly to honour payment.
“After all attempts to get the assembly to pay us failed, the only option left for us was to shut the block to compel authorities to do the right thing”, he said.
DCE’s RESPONSE
The Asunafo South District Chief Executive Mr. Adusi Poku Frank, who inherited the project said that the assembly has made part-payment since he assumed office.
According to him payment to the contractor would be completed on his return from official duties outside the district.
The stranded pupils of Kukuom SDA Junior High School appealed to the Asunafo South District Assembly to urgently resolve the matter to enable them have access to the classrooms to learn.
