The Minority Caucus on the Parliamentary Select Committee on Roads and Transport has lashed out at the government, condemning the widespread abandonment of road projects across the country.
The caucus criticized the current administration for failing to pay road contractors, a move they say has halted work on numerous projects initiated during the previous Akufo-Addo administration.
Addressing the Parliamentary Press Corps on Tuesday, March 24, the Ranking Member of the Committee and MP for Akyem Swedru, Hon. Kennedy Nyarko Osei, lambasted the government for its “paltry” release of funds.
According to the lawmaker, only GH₵1 billion has been released out of the GH₵5.8 billion allocated to the sector for the 2025–2026 period. He stressed that this amount is woefully inadequate to meet the existing obligations within the road sector.
”Such a low level of fund release has severe operational consequences and raises serious concerns about the gap between policy pronouncements and actual physical execution,” Hon. Osei stated.
He further argued that the current Mahama administration’s commitment to road infrastructure is not being matched by the necessary financial flows. The Ranking Member revealed that approximately 80% of contractors working on Road Fund projects have vacated their sites.
This mass demobilization is largely attributed to the government owing them substantial sums of money.
Even in cases where payments are made, Hon. Osei noted that the amounts are often too small to allow contractors to effectively return to site, further compounding project delays.
He warned that this situation poses a serious risk to the sustainability of the nation’s infrastructure and called for “urgent and innovative” financial solutions.
The Akyem Swedru lawmaker highlighted that the previous NPP administration had begun exploring alternative financing, such as road infrastructure bonds.
This concept was also a pillar of Dr. Bawumia’s 2024 manifesto.
The vision was to create a framework where individuals invest in road bonds.
The repayment, he said, is supported by enhanced and modernized toll collection systems.
Hon. Osei urged the government to clear the arrears owed to contractors to restore confidence and ensure the long-term health of the sector.
According to the Minority, the NPP government left office with over 1,000 active road projects nationwide, all of which were documented in the official handing-over notes during the transition.
However, 15 months into the new administration, more than 80% of these projects have reportedly been abandoned.
”A change of government should not result in the discontinuation of ongoing capital projects, especially those financed by taxpayers’ money,” Osei emphasized.
He warned that abandoning these projects not only leads to the deterioration of partially completed work but also imposes massive future costs for rehabilitation and completion.
By 1960news.com
