I borrowed money to initiate road projects but I’ve not been paid – Kofi Akpaloo

The Founder and Leader of the Liberal Party of Ghana (LPG), Percival Kofi Akpaloo, says he has been burdened with substantial debts due to government’s inability to settle road contract payment arrears.

He disclosed that he secured loans from financial institutions to initiate various construction projects, but government is yet to fulfill its obligations.

In an exclusive interview with 3news, Mr. Akpaloo noted that government has given him a raw deal, adding that the road projects he started in the Bono, Ahafo and Ashanti region are over 60% complete.

“We’ve been doing it. We did not get finance from the state or from the agency. We used our own resources to do them, but it’s not been paid. I’ve done it with my money.”

“I borrowed money from the bank to do them, but I’ve not been paid so I’m owing the bank,” he disclosed on Tuesday, April 16, 2024.

When asked about how much the government owes him, Kofi Akpaloo said he could not disclose it especially when he had no documentation at his disposal.

“I cannot be able to tell you the exact figures, but they owe me so I’m expecting them to pay. Some [of the projects] are about 70 percent, some about 65 percent but they’ve not been paid. One is Ahafo, one is Bono, one is Ashanti,” he emphasised.

Despite the criticisms regarding the conditions under which he won the contracts, he insists that he is competent to execute quality road projects.

“So far as I’m a Ghanaian… I qualify for anything, you understand. But there are a lot of contractors who are not Ghanaians, they are foreign nationals. So everybody is working.”

“It’s not about the party you affiliate with or you don’t affiliate with. It’s about you being able to have the capacity to deliver. That is what is the most important thing,” he added.

Election 2024

Popularly known for his ‘sɔme ha, na sɔme ha’ slogan, Kofi Akpaloo says he is poised to win the 2024 presidential election.

In 2011, he founded the Independent People’s Party (IPP) but was unable to contest in the 2012 and 2016 elections.

He unsuccessfully contested the rejection of his nominations in court.

Following the dissolution of the IPP, he established the Liberal Party of Ghana in 2017 and participated in the 2020 elections.

“The people are receiving our message very well. So, it’s more or less like we are still in the structuring, building process. We are building our structures to make sure we have formidable force.”

He further added: “You need somebody who will come and add value to our natural resources; somebody who will produce to meet our needs. So, the young people, you’ll be disappointed voting for them.”

“If you are thinking you’re going to get a job when you vote Mahama or you vote Bawumia or you vote Alan Kyerematen, you’ll be disappointed. The only person who can support you to get your jobs to do is Kofi Akpaloo.”