The Minister for Roads and Highways, Governs Kwame Agbodza, has warned utility companies and telecommunications operators against digging up newly completed roads to install water pipes, electricity cables and other underground infrastructure.
He says the government will hold service providers accountable for damaging completed roads, insisting that all underground utility installations must be properly coordinated with road contractors before asphalt is laid.
The minister issued the warning during an inspection of ongoing road construction projects in the Ashanti Region, where he called f or closer collaboration between contractors and utility companies to prevent avoidable damage and additional expenditure on road repairs.
Road construction projects across the country have often been disrupted by utility works, with newly constructed or rehabilitated roads cut open to accommodate water pipelines, electricity cables and telecommunications infrastructure.
The practice can damage road surfaces, compromise the quality of completed works and impose additional costs on the state.
Mr. Agbodza says the government will no longer tolerate such disruptions when service providers have the opportunity to make the necessary arrangements during construction.
“As for this time round, we are not going to allow any service provider to dig the road we are building. No way!” he warned.
“If we see anybody, either Ghana Water, Electricity Company, or Telcos, digging any road that we have completed, we’ll take a legal action and hold you accountable.”
He said utility companies must take advantage of ongoing construction works to install their infrastructure or notify contractors of future requirements before the roads are completed.
The minister’s position was supported by contractors working on major road projects, suggesting that early communication from utility companies would allow ducts and other provisions to be incorporated into the construction process.
“They should be here, and then letting us know where in future they will pass their cables, because people will settle along this road by all means. So, those service providers, they should let us know,” the Kwabena Owusu Aduomi said.
The warning comes as the government pushes ahead with road infrastructure projects intended to improve connectivity, ease congestion and reduce travel time on major transport corridors.
Mr. Agbodza also urged contractors to accelerate work and make effective use of available construction time, stressing that extensions would not be granted unless justified.
By Ibrahim Abubakar
