Roads and Highways Minister Kwame Governs Agbodza has accused members of his own team of sabotaging oversight efforts by tipping off contractors about upcoming inspections, allowing them to stage-manage sites to create a false impression of productivity.
The Minister made the explosive allegations during an unannounced inspection of the Sunyani-Atronie-Acherensua road on Wednesday, where he found the project site deserted despite the contractor, Alexiboam Construction Limited, having been mobilised for work.
“I know that anytime I say I am going to inspection, some people working with me share the itinerary with the contractors and they prepare to receive me. When I go to the site alone and do a lot without your knowledge, I don’t see them working,” an agitated Agbodza stated.
The Minister expressed particular frustration at the empty Sunyani-Atronie-Acherensua site, questioning the contractor’s commitment despite its 33% completion status according to official reports.
“This is Alexiboam’s site. What is happening? It is 11:00, how come I am not seeing anybody here and all the trucks and equipment working actively on this section?” he queried, visibly disappointed.
Independent Inspections Reveal Discrepancy in Official Reports
The Minister disclosed that he recently dispatched an independent monitoring team to inspect projects in the Eastern, Brong Ahafo and Ashanti regions, uncovering findings that starkly contradicted the positive assessments submitted by some regional representatives.
“I sent a team independently to Eastern Region, Brong Ahafo and Ashanti Region last week and if I share the report with you, you will not be happy,” he warned, addressing supervisory officials.
The minister criticised what he described as a troubling culture where contractors secure government projects but remain absent from sites, instead spending time “parading on the corridors of power” while blaming delays on non-payment.
“Which of these contractors can tell me that the reason they are not on site today is because they have not been paid?” he challenged.
Jobs on the Line as Minister Demands Accountability
Turning his attention to supervising officials, Agbodza issued a stark warning that their positions were at risk if performance did not improve immediately.
“So, Director, I am not impressed today. Your job is not safe. I am not talking to you alone, I am talking to all my Regional Directors for Urban roads, Feeder roads and Highways. There is lack of performance,” he declared.
“You better explain to me why yourself and Urban Roads directors, including Engineer Adomah and your teams in the regions, are not living up to expectations,” he demanded.
The Minister has summoned the Bono Regional Director of the Ghana Highway Authority, the Chief Executive, and the Regional Director of the Department of Urban Roads to his office in Accra to explain the delays on the 34-kilometre Sunyani Outer Ring Road project.
Government to Take Decisive Action
Agbodza stressed that the government would no longer tolerate business as usual, noting that the “Big Push” infrastructure agenda requires contractors to be active on site and officials to provide genuine oversight.
“If I had informed you that I was coming here, I would have seen a lot of trucks and activity here. And when I leave, members of the public report that ‘oh, it is because you are coming that is why they are working’. Your job is not safe,” he cautioned regional directors.
The Minister indicated he would be heading to the Northern Region for further inspections and expects all contractors to be on site, warning that decisive action would be taken against non-performing contractors and supervising officials alike.
“Regional Directors and yourself are not delivering according to expectation. And I am not going to lie about it. I have said these things quietly. Some people don’t know that before I say something publicly, I would have said it ten times internally,” he concluded.
