Roads and Highways Minister Kwame Governs Agbodza has warned Rango Construction that it could be replaced if it abandons the Bolgatanga-Bawku-Pulmakom road project again after government officials leave the site.
The minister issued the warning during a visit to the project, where he expressed dissatisfaction with the contractor’s apparent withdrawal of workers and equipment following President John Dramani Mahama’s recent inspection.
According to Agbodza, the contractor had given assurances of renewed commitment when the President visited, but a subsequent inspection revealed little evidence of sustained work.
He said residents had described the contractor’s presence during official visits as “eye service”, a concern he initially doubted but later found to be accurate.
“Having said all this, I have no doubt that you have the capability of completing this project,” the minister said, before warning the contractor against leaving the site again.
“Let me repeat, when I leave here and you and your team leave the site, don’t come back, because you’ll come back to see another contractor here,” he said.
Agbodza directed the contractor to mobilise within one week and begin work on the bridge, while insisting that visible activity should be seen across the project within two weeks.
He said the government had prioritised the road under the Big Push programme and that funding was not the reason for the delays.
“The president has prioritized that this is a big push project. In fact, we are already at the tail end of the procurement and everything, and this project is fully funded by Big Push,” he said.
The minister also criticised the long delays associated with road contracts in Ghana, noting that the Bolgatanga-Bawku-Pulmakom road project had been ongoing since 2015.
He urged engineers overseeing the project to provide weekly progress reports and not to be intimidated by contractors.
“No contractor is bigger than you. And don’t be afraid of being enemy of any contractor. In fact, when you are doing your job, the country will love you,” he told the engineers.
Agbodza assured communities along the road that the government remained committed to completing the project, which has been a source of concern for residents due to its prolonged delays and poor condition.
