Contractor drives students out, locks down school in Kumasi over unpaid debt
A bizarre standoff unfolded in Kumasi on Monday as a building contractor, Thomas Akwasi Frimpong, took drastic measures to drive home his demands for payment from the government.
Frimpong, who constructed a two-story classroom block at the Old Tafo R/C Basic School, locked out students and teachers, citing the government's failure to honour its debt.
Frimpong claims to have pre-financed the construction project to the tune of Gh230,000, selling his properties to repay bank loans. Despite completing the project in 2010, he alleges that successive governments have neglected to settle the debt.
The contractor's actions have left students and teachers stranded, with Frimpong insisting that the facility will remain closed until the government meets its obligations.
"Since 2010 that the student moved into the building till date the government hasn't paid me and I am not going to allow the students to use it," he said. “It's over 14 years now; if government rented wouldn't he have paid? They should pay me, if not the students won't be allowed to study in the building”.
“I was waiting for the government to settle me but nothing has been done,” he complained. "I am not doing this because it's an election year. I’m a member of the NPP but now I need my money, enough is enough".
This incident echoes similar cases, such as the locking of Galilea M/A Basic School by a contractor over unpaid government debts.
Source: Lead News Online
