Minister for Roads and Highways, Governs Kwame Agbodza, has assured that the newly launched Big Push road project at Afienya in the Greater Accra Region will be completed in less than 24 months.
Describing the initiative as a “bold intervention” beyond partisan politics, Mr. Agbodza said the government was determined to deliver results despite the heavy financial challenges facing the Ministry.
Speaking at the sod-cutting ceremony on Tuesday, September 16, the Minister disclosed that the Ministry currently owes contractors an estimated GH¢40 billion. However, he questioned the visibility of work done with such huge expenditure across the country.
“Mr President, if you come to the Ministry of Roads and Highways, we owe probably GH¢40 billion in debt to contractors. But when we toured the 16 regions, it was difficult to see what the money was spent on,” he noted.
Mr. Agbodza commended President John Mahama for his leadership, calling the Big Push the largest single intervention ever undertaken in Ghana’s road sector.
“Despite the challenges, Mr President, you made a bold commitment to institute an intervention that will go down in history as the biggest road investment at a single time. The Big Push is not a campaign promise; it is a bold intervention by your government,” he stressed.
On concerns of potential delays, the Minister expressed confidence in the contractor’s ability to deliver on schedule.
“When we say we can do this project within four months, we mean business. The people of Greater Accra and Ga-Dangbe should not be worried. The contractor on this stretch can complete it in less than 24 months,” he assured.
He further pledged that the Big Push would yield visible results, with government keenly monitoring progress to ensure timely delivery.
The government has allocated GH¢13.85 billion (US$892.9 million) for the programme, which covers 42 priority road projects nationwide.
