My contract with gov't was valid, pay me my GHC1.1m - New Edubiase stadium contractor

The contractor in charge of the New Edubiase Sports Stadium, Mr Nurudeen, has disclosed on Rainbow Sports today [Thursday] that, the change of government has affected the progress of work.

Speaking in an exclusive interview on Rainbow Radio 87.5FM, he said, he raised a certificate for him to be paid an amount of GHc1.1 million for work done but he has not received the money.

The contractor said, after he was tossed several times, the current Minister, Mr Isaac Asiamah, told him he had no contract with government for him to be paid the GHc1.1 million.

"I told them the sod cutting was done by former President John Dramani Mahama but they insisted I did not have a contract with government. I later received an invitation from the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) to come and respond. I took all the documents covering the contract to the BNI, the former Director at the Sports Ministry, Alhaji Red, was also invited where he confirmed to the BNI that, I had a contract with government.’’

The contractor says he received his first payment of GHc 917, 000 under the previous government. That was the first mobilisation. Later, I raised a certificate of GHc690,000 but the previous administration paid only GHc500,000.’’

He recounted the pressure he went through to ensure the project was completed as scheduled but the current administration stalled the work on ground that he did not have a contract with government.

"I have raised GHc1.1 million certificate after the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) came into office but it has not been paid. I have a valid contract with government and I will pursue my money until it is paid. The previous government went into a contract with me. I am a businessman and worked for all our former presidents including late Mills, former President Kufour and John Dramani Mahama. I have all the valid documents with me. Another judgement debt is looming because I have a valid contract with government,’’ he stressed.

The current Sports Minister, Mr Isaac Asiamah has revealed before parliament that, his ministry cannot trace the source of funding for the New Edubiase Sports Stadium.

According to the Sports Minister, the funding for the project was not captured in the budget for 2015 and 2016, and there is no evidence of sponsorship for the project.

The minister further disclosed that, a payment of one million, six hundred and fifty thousand, two hundred and seventy-one Ghana Cedis (GH?1,650,271.00) had been received in cash by the construction company in charge of the project, Shakdeen Limited from the then Sports Minister, Nii Lante Vanderpuye. The issue has been referred to the BNI to investigate.