By: Kekeli K. Blamey
A building contractor, Thomas Akwasi Frimpong, has taken drastic measures to recover a debt owed to him by the government.
On Monday, he stormed the Old Tafo R/C Basic School in Kumasi in the Ashanti Region and drove out students from their classrooms, locking up the building.
Mr. Frimpong, who owns Atofis Company Limited, claims that the government has failed to pay him for the construction of a two-story classroom block, which he pre-financed with Gh230,000.
The project was started in 2008, and despite completing it, Mr. Frimpong alleges that successive governments have neglected to settle the debt.
The contractor, who claims to have sold his properties to repay loans contracted from the bank to undertake the project, expressed frustration with the government’s failure to honor its obligations.
He stated that the students would only be allowed to use the facility once the government settles the debt.
“It’s over 14 years now; if government rented, wouldn’t they have paid? They should pay me, or the students won’t be allowed to study in the building,” Mr. Frimpong said.
This is not the first time Mr. Frimpong has attempted to lock up the school.
In 2021, he planned to take similar action but was intervened by some authorities. However, with no payment forthcoming, Mr. Frimpong has decided to take matters into his own hands.
“I’m 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,” he emphasized.
