Minister for Roads and Highways, Governs Kwame Agbodza, has cautioned road contractors that the government will only award new contracts based on how well they execute previous ones.
The Minister made the comment while touring road projects in the Ahafo and Western North Regions on Thursday, April 3, 2025.
Kwame Agbodza said the government has already been burdened with huge debts, and the Ministry will ensure value for money in road projects by insisting on full completion of ongoing works.
Commenting on the 39-kilometer Tepa (Mabang)–Goaso Road, which is under rehabilitation by contractors Kofi Job Company Limited, the Minister said the contractor has shown the ability to carry out the project despite challenges related to debts owed to contractors — an issue the government is working to resolve.
He, however, cautioned contractors against taking on too many projects without delivering on them.
“Your next job, which is a new one, will depend on how you do this one. We will do replacement; that is why I am telling you. For every contractor, I will pick a number of projects and say, ‘If you want a new one, complete this one, and I will replace it with a new one.’ I think that is also fair.
“If we do enough consultation, these issues would have come up as part of the regional projects. But if we sit in Accra and just award jobs, when you turn up, the people will tell you, ‘You’re doing right, but left is our priority,’” he stated.
As part of the inspections, the Minister was accompanied by the Chief Director of the Ministry, Samuel Akuaku; Director of Monitoring and Evaluation, Francis Ahlidja; the Highways Director; and other high-ranking officials of the Ministry.
The Minister is currently on an inspection tour of road projects across the country. On Thursday, April 3, he inspected the rehabilitation of the Tepa (Mabang)–Goaso road, the rehabilitation of the Benchema Barrier–Juaboso road, Sefwi Wiawso town roads, and the construction of a bridge over the Tano River on the Nsawora–Sefwi Wiawso road.
He is expected to also inspect the reconstruction of the Tarkwa–Agona Nkwanta road, the dualization of the Takoradi–Agona Junction Road, and the construction of selected roads and interchanges in Ghana – Phase 1, Lot 4 (PTC Interchange), on Friday, April 4, 2025.
