ELS: MBN360 NEWS
The Minister of Roads and Highways, Mr Kwame Governs Agbodza, has issued a stern warning to contractors, consultants and officials of the ministry regarding the newly approved $500 million World Bank-funded rural road initiative.
Speaking at a media briefing following parliamentary approval of the credit facility, the Minister announced a zero-tolerance approach towards administrative negligence, delays and substandard work.
He stressed that the investment must not be treated as a routine commercial venture but as a critical national assignment.
The $500 million facility will finance the Ghana Market Access and Connectivity Project (GMACP), which seeks to rehabilitate and maintain key farm-to-market feeder roads to improve agriculture and strengthen rural economies.
To ensure the effective use of the funds, the Minister outlined strict measures against contractors and consultants who fail to meet expectations. These include:
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Bond cashing: Contractors who deliver poor-quality work will have their performance bonds cashed.
Insurance drawdowns: The ministry will activate insurance policies on projects that fail to meet required standards.
Personal liability: Consultants who approve unverified or substandard work will be held personally responsible and surcharged.
Contract termination: Companies that fail to meet agreed timelines will have their contracts terminated.
Mr Agbodza also directed his warning at local government leaders, particularly District Chief Executives (DCEs) and Regional Ministers who protect underperforming contractors.
He urged local leaders and beneficiary communities to actively monitor projects and promptly report contractors who fail to deliver.
The World Bank-funded project will run alongside Ghana’s domestically funded “Big Push Initiative”.
The Ministry of Roads and Highways said it has awarded road infrastructure contracts worth $5 billion under the initiative, funded through domestic resources without contracting external debt.
