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The Roads And Highways Minister, Honourable Kwame Governs Agbodza has warned that government has lost significant amounts of money through attempts by some quantity surveyors to secure inflated compensation payments for people affected by road projects. He explained that some surveyors approach project affected persons after official valuations and persuade them to reject approved amounts in pursuit of substantially higher sums.
The Minister noted that such interventions can also delay road construction when affected property owners are encouraged to seek court injunctions against projects. He therefore appealed to citizens who provide such advice to desist from practices that increase project costs and prolong construction schedules.
According to Honourable Agbodza, government works with relevant agencies to identify properties affected by road projects and determine compensation in accordance with the law. The process, he explained, involves valuation of properties before affected persons receive the payments due to them.
The Roads Minister indicated that the same professional standards apply to surveyors working for institutions such as the Ghana Highway Authority and the Department of Urban Roads. He questioned how an individual surveyor could later persuade a property owner that an official valuation can be multiplied several times without a clear basis for such an increase.
The issue, he noted, becomes more problematic when financial incentives influence the advice given to project affected persons. In his view, some individuals stand to benefit from the difference between the original valuation and the larger amount they promise to secure for clients.
“We have lost so much money, and sometimes the projects are delayed needlessly because of the behaviour of some of these people.”Honourable Kwame Governs Agbodza
Honourable Agbodza stressed that compensation remains an important part of road development because government must provide lawful payments to people whose properties are affected by construction. He added that officials involved in valuation are expected to apply established procedures when determining the amounts payable.
The Minister further appealed to property owners to examine compensation offers carefully before accepting advice that could result in prolonged disputes. Such decisions, he indicated, can affect the pace of projects and create additional costs for the state.
The situation has become particularly relevant to major road projects where construction requires the acquisition of land and other properties. Projects such as the Accra Kumasi Expressway involve several project affected persons whose cooperation is required for construction to proceed smoothly.
Two Surveyors Face Possible EOCO Probe Over Valuation Claims
The government is also considering a formal investigation into the conduct of two quantity surveyors accused of promising project affected persons compensation several times higher than official valuations. Honourable Agbodza disclosed that the individuals could be reported to the Economic and Organised Crime Office for further examination.
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The proposed referral follows questions about how some private surveyors arrive at valuations that differ substantially from those produced through official processes. The Roads Minister indicated that investigators would be able to examine the basis for such claims and determine whether any wrongdoing occurred.
“We are looking at the possibility of reporting two of those people to EOCO for investigation.”Honourable Kwame Governs Agbodza
The planned action signals a stronger approach towards professional conduct in compensation disputes linked to public infrastructure. It also places greater emphasis on the need for consistency between valuations conducted by public agencies and claims presented to affected property owners.
Beyond the proposed investigation, the Minister explained that compensation disputes occur across several parts of the country. Similar situations, he noted, have emerged in Accra and other locations where road construction requires properties to be cleared.
The pattern can create difficulties for contractors when affected properties remain occupied because of unresolved compensation disagreements. Where court action follows, construction schedules can also be disrupted while the legal process takes its course.
At the same time, the Minister pointed out that most project affected persons accept the valuations offered through the official process and allow construction to continue. Their cooperation, he observed, helps government and contractors proceed with demolition and other works after the required compensation arrangements have been completed.
The legal framework also provides protection for property owners whose land or buildings are acquired for public projects. Government, according to the Minister, remains obligated to pay compensation where property is lawfully acquired for infrastructure development.
The Roads Minister therefore linked cooperation with compensation procedures to the timely delivery of road projects. When affected persons receive their lawful payments and provide access to project sites, construction teams can continue their work without prolonged disputes.
The matter also raises the importance of professional accountability within the valuation process. Surveyors who provide advice to property owners carry responsibilities that can influence both public expenditure and the progress of major infrastructure projects.
Honourable Agbodza indicated that the government would continue engaging project affected persons on compensation arrangements connected to ongoing road works. The approach seeks to ensure that legitimate claims receive appropriate attention while preventing practices that unnecessarily increase public expenditure.
The Minister’s warning places the proposed EOCO referrals within a wider effort to protect public funds and reduce delays associated with road construction. He also urged project affected persons to rely on lawful valuation procedures as government continues work on major road projects across the country.
