Accra: The Minister for Roads and Highways, Governs Kwame Agbodza, has issued a stern warning to contractors involved in the government's Big Push project, emphasizing that substandard work will not be tolerated. He stated that companies failing to meet the required standards risk having their contracts terminated and being excluded from future projects.
According to Ghana Web, the Minister delivered this warning during an inspection tour of ongoing road projects in the Volta Region. He pointed out that recent heavy rains had revealed deficiencies in the construction of some roads completed in previous years. Agbodza urged contractors to use the current phase to construct durable roads with proper drainage systems that can withstand regular rainfall.
Agbodza explained that while rainfall is crucial for the nation's survival, it is imperative that roads are built to endure it. He stressed the importance of adhering to standards in drainage sizing and compacting to prevent roads from being washed away by normal rainfall.
The Minister expressed satisfaction with the progress of the projects he inspected, showing confidence that contractors would complete them within schedule despite minor delays. He highlighted the rehabilitation of the Antipoku-Asikuma Junction road as an example of improved contractor performance after the government threatened to terminate the contract earlier this year due to initial delays.
Agbodza noted that, following the warning, the contractor had exceeded expectations by advancing beyond the planned schedule, completing about 40 percent of the work instead of the expected 30 percent. This, he said, demonstrated the contractor's capability and seriousness.
He clarified that the government's warnings were not meant to victimize contractors but to ensure timely delivery of quality infrastructure. Agbodza urged underperforming contractors to step up, warning that replacements were ready to take over if necessary.
The Minister announced plans to tighten conditions for awarding future road contracts, stating that companies would not receive new projects while existing contracts remain incomplete. This policy aims to discourage contractors from juggling multiple projects without completing them.
Volta Regional Minister, James Gunu, also commented during the tour, describing the pace of road construction in the region as unacceptable. He supported the Roads Minister's tough stance and expressed confidence that the announced measures would enhance contractor performance. Gunu pledged his support for actions against companies that fail to meet expectations and announced that the inspection team would return in two months to assess progress.