The Minister for Roads and Highways, Governs Kwame Agbodza, has defended his Ministry’s handling of road contracts and financial infractions, citing t
The Minister for Roads and Highways, Governs Kwame Agbodza, has defended his Ministry’s handling of road contracts and financial infractions, citing the complex nature of infrastructure delivery and the need for pragmatic solutions.
Appearing before the Public Accounts Committee, the Minister acknowledged that a significant number of road projects—over 95 percent—lack full documentation. However, he stressed that many of these projects are critical to communities and cannot simply be abandoned due to procedural lapses.
He argued that terminating such projects on the basis of non-compliance would be impractical and counterproductive. Instead, the Ministry prioritizes ensuring that works meet required standards, with payments made strictly based on the volume of work completed rather than the original contract sums.
Mr. Agbodza cited ongoing adjustments under the government’s “Big Push” infrastructure initiative, explaining that some contracts have been renegotiated to achieve cost savings for the state while still delivering value.
“Road construction is not always predictable. Emergencies occur, conditions change, and flexibility becomes necessary to ensure completion,” he noted, adding that the overarching goal is to regularize affected projects, complete them, and secure appropriate funding.
On financing, the Minister raised concerns about the sustainability of the Road Fund, warning against the growing trend of assigning large-scale projects to the facility. He explained that loading high-value projects onto the Fund undermines its ability to support its core mandate, particularly maintenance and smaller-scale interventions at the level of Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies.
He pointed to a disparity between a single project valued at GH¢700 million and the Fund’s total projected allocation of GH¢3 billion for 2026, describing the situation as unsustainable.
Mr. Agbodza proposed reforms to streamline project approvals, limit the scale of projects charged to the Road Fund, and enhance its effectiveness in supporting equitable regional development.
The Minister concluded by emphasizing the need to strike a balance between delivering essential infrastructure and maintaining financial discipline and accountability.
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