The Minister for Roads and Highways, Kwame Governs Agbodza, has defended the government’s flagship road infrastructure initiative, the Big Push programme, following concerns raised by the Minority in Parliament.
Presenting a statement on the floor of Parliament on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, Mr. Agbodza said the programme is aimed at addressing the country’s deteriorating road network, improving connectivity, and reducing the cost of doing business.
He noted that the initiative, launched in 2025, is receiving strong parliamentary support, with nearly 50 billion cedis approved for multi-year road and bridge projects across all 16 regions.
“Over 2,000 kilometres of roads in all 16 regions of our country are under extensive transformation,” he stated.
The Minister rejected claims of irregularities in the award of contracts under the programme, insisting that all processes were conducted in line with the Public Procurement Act.
“Let me state unequivocally that all contracts awarded under the programme were done in strict adherence to the Public Procurement Act and its accompanying regulations,” he said.
Mr. Agbodza added that all contractual information is publicly available on the Ministry’s website, stressing that there has been no attempt to conceal details of the projects.
He further clarified that only about 44 percent of contracts under the programme were awarded through sole sourcing, contrary to claims suggesting otherwise.
“It will be mischievous for any right-thinking member of society to conclude that the Ministry of Roads and Highways only procures works through sole sourcing,” he noted.
The Minister explained that the government inherited a number of stalled road projects and significant debt in the sector, which necessitated urgent intervention.
He disclosed that about 23 projects valued at 14.8 billion cedis, previously abandoned due to lack of funding, have been incorporated into the Big Push programme for completion.
Mr. Agbodza also indicated that over 11 billion cedis has so far been paid to contractors to address outstanding arrears.
“The government has not abandoned any ongoing project,” he assured.
According to the Minister, the government has introduced stricter monitoring and cost control mechanisms to ensure efficiency and value for money.
He said agencies are now directly responsible for design and costing, a move expected to save the country at least 5 percent of project costs.
“We have instituted stricter monitoring and cost control mechanisms to ensure we only pay for work done,” he stated.
Mr. Agbodza welcomed parliamentary scrutiny of the road sector, describing it as essential for accountability.
“No ministry is subjected to as much consistent scrutiny as the Ministry of Roads… I welcome the scrutiny. It strengthens accountability and ensures that we remain aligned with the expectations of Ghanaians,” he said.
He reiterated the government’s commitment to delivering the programme with transparency, efficiency and integrity.
The Big Push programme is expected to transform key economic corridors, create jobs and improve transportation infrastructure nationwide.
Minority demands full disclosure of Big Push road contracts over transparency concerns
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Source:
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