The Minister for Roads and Highways, Mr Governs Kwame Agbodza, has warned contractors who delay in executing road projects that their contracts will be terminated.
He said the government would not tolerate unnecessary delays as it takes steps to fast-track work on projects across the country, particularly by meeting its financial obligations to contractors.
Mr Agbodza gave the warning during an inspection tour of road projects in the Eastern, Volta and Oti regions, with his first stop at Atimpoku.
He said contractors engaged under the government’s “Big Push” initiative were selected based on their capacity to deliver within schedule and should, therefore, not offer excuses for delays.
He noted that while some contractors were making steady progress under the same conditions, others continued to lag behind.
Mr Agbodza cautioned that such excuses would not be accepted and urged defaulting contractors to return to site and accelerate work.
He reiterated an earlier warning that contractors who failed to meet expected milestones risked having their contracts terminated and reassigned.
Mr Agbodza explained that the inspection exercise formed part of the ministry’s efforts to monitor ongoing projects, ensure adherence to timelines and improve the quality of road infrastructure nationwide.
At the Atimpoku-Asikuma section of the Tema-Ho highway, he commended Ussuya Ghana Limited for improving the pace of work.
He said although the section had initially raised concerns due to slow progress, the current level of mobilisation suggested that the contractor could catch up with the schedule.
Responding to concerns about congestion and utility service lines within the Juapong township, the minister said the ministry would engage relevant stakeholders to address the challenge.
He explained that the expansion of the road required additional space beyond the existing right of way and that due processes would be followed to relocate affected structures with appropriate compensation.
He added that agencies such as the Electricity Company of Ghana and the Ghana Water Company Limited would be engaged to relocate their infrastructure to facilitate smooth execution of the project.
Mr Agbodza also encouraged residents within the project corridor to cooperate with authorities to ensure timely completion of the works.
He commended Ussuya Ghana Limited for the quality of work on site, describing it as among the best observed, and urged other contractors to emulate the standard.
He noted that although the rains had affected road works across the country, they also provided lessons for improving future project delivery.
At the Have-Peki section of the Eastern Corridor road, Mr Agbodza expressed dissatisfaction with the quality of work done by a previous contractor.
He said it was unacceptable that about 28 kilometres of road, already paid for, would have to be redone due to poor workmanship.
As part of measures to ensure focus and efficiency, the minister announced that contractors currently engaged on projects would not be awarded new contracts until they had completed their existing assignments.
The tour also took the minister and his team to project sites at Peki, Have-Hohoe (53km), Hohoe-Jasikan (30km), Dodo Pepesu-Nkwanta-Dambai (46km), and the Nkwanta Oti-Damanko and Nkwanta-Dambai (41km) sections, among others.
BY JULIUS YAO PETETSI
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