The Minority Caucus in Parliament has raised concerns over what it describes as the widespread abandonment of road projects initiated under the previous NPP administration, claiming that more than 80 per cent of over 1,000 projects have stalled.
Addressing a press conference on Tuesday, March 24, the Ranking Member on the Roads and Transport Committee, Kennedy Nyarko Osei, said many contractors have left project sites across the country, with some withdrawing their equipment despite significant public investment.
“At the point of transition, when the administration of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo handed over governance, there were over 1,000 road projects actively ongoing across the country,” he said.
He added that the situation has worsened months into the current administration.
“However, fifteen months into the administration of the Mahama government, more than 80 per cent of these projects have effectively been abandoned completely. Across the country, contractors have vacated sites and, in many cases, fully demobilised equipment.”
According to the Minority, the affected projects cut across major implementing agencies, including the Ghana Highway Authority, the Department of Urban Roads, and the Department of Feeder Roads. Many were already at advanced stages before work came to a halt.
Mr. Nyarko Osei cited the Accra-Kumasi Highway corridor as an example, noting that sections such as Osino, Anyinam, Enyiresi, and Konongo had reached between 57 per cent and 93 per cent completion as of December 2024.
“Despite this substantial advancement, these road projects have been completely abandoned by the government,” he stated.
The Minority argued that halting ongoing infrastructure projects after a change in government leads to inefficiencies and waste of public resources, stressing that continuity is key to maximising public investment.
They also raised concerns about the financial situation in the sector, particularly the management of the Ghana Road Fund, where they estimate arrears to be around GH₵20 billion.
Mr. Nyarko Osei noted that only GH₵1 billion has been released out of a GH₵5.8 billion allocation for 2025 and 2026, describing the amount as insufficient to meet existing obligations.
He urged government to prioritise the payment of arrears, restore confidence among contractors, and ensure that infrastructure development is not disrupted by political transitions.
Source: Adomonline