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The Minister for Roads and Highways, Kwame Governs Agbodza, has announced that the government will only commence road projects that are fully funded to avoid payment delays and ensure sustainability. Speaking at a media briefing as part of the government’s accountability series, Agbodza acknowledged challenges in contract payments and an “uncontrolled level” of contract awards. He emphasized the need for discipline, stating, “We will only start with projects we are sure we can fund.”
The minister also highlighted a critical shortage of technical personnel to oversee road projects nationwide. With nearly 1,000 projects underway, he admitted that the limited number of supervisors has compromised quality control.
“When we engaged stakeholders, one major concern raised was the quality of our roads,” Agbodza said. “Ideally, a completed road should last 6-10 years, but in some cases, just six months of rain washes everything away.” He clarified that the issue was not due to incompetence but rather a lack of sufficient technical staff to monitor projects effectively.
To address these challenges, the ministry plans to prioritize properly funded projects to prevent payment delays. The minister’s remarks come amid growing public frustration over deteriorating roads and stalled projects. His assurances signal a shift toward more sustainable project planning, though questions remain about how quickly improvements will materialize.
Reintroduction of Electronic Tolls to Boost Road Maintenance
In a bid to enhance road maintenance and revenue collection, the Cabinet has approved the reintroduction of tolls on engineered roads across the country. The new system will utilize electronic and automated toll collection to improve transparency, reduce congestion, and enhance user experience.
The Minister for roads and highways has emphasized that the revamped tolling system will leverage digital platforms to eliminate physical barriers, allowing for stress-free transactions. “We are hoping this will be based on electronic platforms to prevent any physical barriers on roads,” the Minister for roads and highways stated.
“Tolls will only apply to properly engineered roads, excluding rough roads; however, once such roads are fixed, they may later be included in the toll network to fund their maintenance. The proposed toll rates have been submitted to Parliament for approval via the Ministry of Finance to determine the exact charges after legislative deliberation. Meanwhile, 12 firms have submitted applications to participate in the toll collection system, with evaluations currently underway,” stated the minister
Authorities have launched public advertisements to inform citizens about the upcoming changes. The government assures that the electronic tolling system will enhance revenue transparency and ensure funds are directly allocated to road maintenance. The reintroduction of tolls marks a significant shift in infrastructure funding, aiming to sustain better road conditions while minimizing inconvenience for motorists.
Source:channel247online.com/Tamimu Hamdia
Yaw Boagyan
Rafiq Adam
