The Minister for Roads and Highways, Governs Kwame Agbodza, has disclosed that the Mahama administration has paid close to GH¢10 billion in road contract arrears within its first year in office, marking what he described as the largest contractor payment made within the shortest period by any government.
Speaking on State of Affairs on Monday, January 26, 2026, with Joshua Kodjo Mensah, Mr. Agbodza said the payments, made by the close of 2025, were entirely for contracts awarded before President John Dramani Mahama assumed office.
“On record, as of December 31, we are approaching about GH¢10 billion in arrears payments to contractors, and the Finance Minister will confirm this in Parliament,” he said.
The minister contrasted the current approach with the suspension of road projects that followed the 2017 change of government, stressing that no such directives were issued under the Mahama administration.
READ: Mahama gov’t inherited over GH¢30bn road sector debt – Roads Minister
“I never asked for any project to be suspended,” he stated. “Rather, the President asked me to go around the 16 regions and assure contractors to keep faith with the state, continue working, and that they would be paid.”
Mr. Agbodza explained that the government’s decision to allow contractors to remain on site helped sustain and improve road infrastructure across the country despite financial constraints.
He expressed gratitude to contractors who continued working despite delays in payment, noting that their cooperation played a key role in maintaining the road network nationwide.
While acknowledging that government still owes contractors far more than the GH¢10 billion already paid, the minister described the amount settled so far as significant given the state of public finances.
“Even paying GH¢10 billion is a colossal amount,” he said, adding that efforts are ongoing to retire the remaining arrears.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh/Barbara Yeboah
