Roads and Highways Minister Governs Kwame Agbodza has praised President John Dramani Mahama’s leadership, attributing progress in road infrastructure delivery to the government’s focus on quality, speed and improved economic management.
According to Agbodza, Ghanaians had grown tired of the cycle in which roads are constructed, deteriorate and require further works, stressing that durability is a key consideration in the government’s infrastructure agenda.
“Your Excellency, you said you are not building roads that the Ghanaian keeps complaining about.
“The cycle of building and it damages and we come back and do it, the Ghanaian is fed up with it and you are the answer to that. So, Your Excellency, for us today, Ahafo says thank you in addition to other ones that we are doing,” he stated.
The Minister made the remarks while briefing President Mahama during an inspection of the Tepa–Goaso road project in the Ahafo Region on Friday, October 9 as part of the President’s Resetting Ghana Tour.
He said the administration’s ability to fund road projects reflected its leadership and economic management, which he said had helped create the resources needed to improve infrastructure across the country.
“Your Excellency, you are delivering and you are only doing this because you are providing better leadership. And we are having a superior economic management leadership; that is why we are able to save money to do it,” he said.
The Minister said the government’s approach to road construction was intended to address public concerns about roads that deteriorate shortly after completion and require repeated rehabilitation.
He stressed the need for durable roads that could serve communities for decades, rather than infrastructure that would need to be rebuilt within a short period.
“Your Excellency this road (Tepa Goaso road) should take us 30 years so that when you get more money, we can extend this road to others who don’t have road yet,” he noted..
Agbodza also called for recognition of contractors who perform well, stating that criticism against underperforming contractors should equally match commendation for contractors delivering beyond expectations.
“When contractors are not performing, we talk about it; when they are performing above our expectation, we have to talk about that one as well,” he said.
He expressed appreciation to President Mahama on behalf of the Ahafo Region for the road projects being undertaken, adding that the government’s Reset Agenda should translate into quality infrastructure delivered at the expected pace.
“Reset means quality and speed,” he said.
