Minister for Roads and Highways, Governs Kwame Agbodza, has given firm assurances that the newly launched Big Push road project in Afienya in the Greater Accra region will be completed in under 24 months.
He described the initiative as a “bold intervention” that goes beyond politics.
Speaking at the sod-cutting ceremony on Tuesday, September 16, Mr Agbodza acknowledged the heavy debt burden currently hanging over the Ministry, estimated at GH¢40 billion owed to contractors, but insisted that the government was committed to delivering results this time around.
“Mr President, if you come to the Ministry of Roads and Highways, we owe probably 40 billion Ghana cedis in debt to contractors,” he revealed.
“But when we went round the country, the 16 regions, it was difficult to see what the money was spent on.”
Mr Agbodza lauded President John Mahama for his leadership in pushing through what he called the largest single intervention in Ghana’s road sector.
“Despite all that, Mr President, you made a bold commitment to institute an intervention that will go down in history as the president that gave the biggest dose of intervention at a single time on our roads,” the Minister declared.
“The Big Push is not a campaign promise, it is a bold intervention by your government.”
Mr Agbodza moved to ease concerns about potential delays, emphasising the capability of the contractor handling the Afienya stretch.
“When we say we can do this project within four months, we mean business. The people of Greater Accra and Ga-Dangbe, don’t be worried,” he assured.
“The contractor that is on this stretch, I believe, can do this project in less than 24 months.”
The Minister further promised that Ghanaians would see tangible progress under the Big Push, with the government closely monitoring timelines and delivery.
“We shall implement Big Push, and the results will be there for everyone to see,” he said.