Roads and Highways Minister Hon Governs Kwame Agbodza has urged contractors working on the Mahama government’s flagship Big Push Road Projects to build roads capable of withstanding years of rainfall, framing this year’s heavy rains as a lesson rather than a setback.
The Minister who is also the MP for Adaklu Constituency, spoke during an ongoing inspection of the Atimpoku-Asikuma junction road project in the Volta Region, addressing contractors directly at the construction site.
“This year, the rain has taught us to change the way we used to do things in the past. It’s an opportunity for us at this stage of big push to make sure that we do the best quality of work. We can’t say that the rainfall is a misfortune. It’s part of why we exist”.
Hon. Governs Kwame Agbodza, Minister of Roads and Highways
Hon. Agbodza told contractors he has travelled the route frequently and remains impressed with what he has observed. Addressing a reported 2 percent delay in the project’s progress, he downplayed any concern.
“I’m not actually worried about the 2 percent at Drift because I know it’s just a matter of time,” he said, expressing confidence that the team on site can catch up and complete the work.
Although the official completion date for the project stands at December 2027, Hon. Agbodza made clear he expects the contractors to finish far sooner.
“You must complete this project sometime early next year,” he told them, noting that the team had already passed through the most difficult phase of construction, with easier work and the drier season still ahead. He said this gives contractors a genuine opportunity to complete the project well ahead of schedule.
Contractor’s Presentation Praised as a Model for Others
Beyond the physical construction work, Hon. Agbodza singled out the contractor’s documentation and presentation practices for particular praise.
He described their approach as among the most professional he has seen, technically and otherwise, and said other contractors working along the same corridor could learn from their example. “This is a very detailed presentation. Even without going to the site, you can tell from the way they presented everything,” he said.
Hon. Agbodza highlighted one specific requirement that has become central to his ministry’s expectations, the provision of a detailed work schedule. He noted that previous contractors on similar projects had failed to provide this, despite its importance.
“One thing we’ve been asking contractors to provide, which the previous contractor didn’t provide, is the work schedule. So you can tell today they are supposed to be doing earthwork or they are supposed to be doing concrete work”.
Hon. Governs Kwame Agbodza, Minister of Roads and Highways
Payment Tied Directly to Performance
Hon. Agbodza used the site visit to reinforce a broader policy on how contractors are compensated. He explained that documentation and presentation form part of what contractors are paid to deliver, and warned that failure to meet these standards could result in financial penalties.
“If we keep coming to your site and you are lacking in terms of presentation, we can actually deduct some money from you. You will only draw down that money when you work for it, and we can certify that project”.
Hon. Governs Kwame Agbodza, Minister of Roads and Highways
He confirmed that some contractors along the corridor have fallen short of expectations in this regard, and reiterated that continued underperformance in presentation and documentation would lead to deductions from their payments.
A New Standard for Future Contracts
Looking beyond the current project, Agbodza outlined a significant shift in how his ministry plans to award future Big Push contracts. He said contractors seeking major new projects must first demonstrate that they have completed and handed over other projects within their existing portfolio.
“No more contractor binging on a job and then taking it just touching here and there,” he said. Under this emerging policy, all major contractors will need to complete and formally hand over current projects before qualifying for additional work.
Hon. Agbodza framed this as a direct incentive for the Atimpoku-Asikuma junction contractor, whose capacity he acknowledged extends beyond the scope of the current 8-kilometre project.
He encouraged the team to finish ahead of schedule, specifically so they would be well positioned to secure work under the next phase of Big Push projects. Hon. Agbodza closed his remarks with clear encouragement for the contractor to maintain momentum.
He reiterated that the project spans just 8 kilometres and does not require the full 24 months originally allotted, expressing his belief that completion in early 2027 remains achievable.
He urged the team to work toward that target, framing early completion as both good practice and a strategic advantage for future contract opportunities under the government’s road infrastructure agenda.
