The Minister for Roads and Highways, Kwame Governs Agbodza, has called for increased local investment in the production of polymer-grade bitumen, arguing that Ghana should not continue relying on external sources for a material that is increasingly important to its road infrastructure programme.
He said the country’s growing expenditure on road construction made it necessary to develop domestic capacity to produce the specialised bitumen used for major road projects.
Speaking at an emergency meeting with Oil Marketing Companies over supply challenges affecting Big Push contractors, Agbodza said Ghana must consider the economic benefits of retaining more of the expenditure on bitumen within the country.
“We are spending multiple folds of government money on bitumen than what we are putting in the production of chicken and other things,” he said.
“So, how come we are spending more on something and we want to rather rely on somebody else’s production level? I don’t think that is fair to the Ghanaian.”
The minister said expanding domestic production would create employment opportunities, particularly for professionals in engineering and related technical fields.
“That money must stay here, because expanded production of PG here means that a new materials engineer or chemical engineer will get job in this country. That is what Mahama is looking for,” he stated.
Agbodza said Ghana would have to find immediate solutions to the current supply challenges, including sourcing the product from other markets where necessary, while working towards a sustainable local production arrangement.
“In the short term, whether we are bringing the product in from anywhere else, we’ll address it as an immediate solution. But going forward, the state itself must take steps to have local capacity to produce PG,” he said.
He added that if polymer-grade bitumen was going to remain the preferred specification for the country’s trunk roads, developing local production capacity would be essential.
“If this is the route the country is taking, that our trunk road will now be built with PG, then it is essential,” he stressed.
The minister’s comments come amid complaints by some Big Push contractors about delays in obtaining polymer-grade bitumen from GOIL, which is expected to serve as the sole supplier under the current policy.
At the emergency meeting, Agbodza directed GOIL to work with other local suppliers, including Vitol and Core, to ensure contractors receive the required quantities without interruption.
He also said the Ghana Highways Authority would deploy additional testing laboratories in Accra, Kumasi and Tamale to assess the quality of the new bitumen grade.
The minister further sought to assure suppliers that demand for road construction materials would remain significant beyond the current administration’s immediate projects.
“The Big Push, I don’t think any government beyond NDC would decide that we are not going to invest in road any longer. The cat is out of the bag. Everybody wants their road improved,” he said.
He encouraged suppliers to consider the long-term opportunities in the sector, adding that sustained government investment in road infrastructure could provide a more predictable market for their businesses.
