Minister for Roads and Highways, Hon. Governs Kwame Agbodza, has disclosed that the Mahama administration has paid GH¢429.5m, equivalent to 29.5 million dollars, to the contractor working on the Suame Interchange project as part of efforts to accelerate completion of the major road infrastructure project in the Ashanti Region.
The Minister made the announcement during his ongoing inspection tour of the government’s flagship Big Push road projects in the Ashanti region.
According to Mr Agbodza, the payment demonstrates President John Dramani Mahama’s commitment to continuing inherited projects despite current economic constraints and limited borrowing opportunities.
“We are not able to borrow money, and we are not able to do anything extra when cocoa prices are down and everything. President Mahama is able to do this simply because of the prudence and efficiency of managing the economy”.
Minister for Roads and Highways, Hon. Governs Kwame Agbodza
Mahama Administration Defends Commitment to Projects
Hon. Agbodza rejected suggestions that the Mahama administration intends to abandon inherited infrastructure projects. According to him, the government has instead prioritised settling outstanding arrears owed to contractors in order to keep major road projects active.
The Roads Minister revealed that within the past two weeks, the President directed the Finance Ministry to settle more than 12 billion Ghana cedis owed to road contractors across the country.
Hon. Agbodza further indicated that most of the payments were made toward projects inherited from previous administrations. “Almost all that money was paid to contracts awarded before he came into office. These were projects he inherited,” he explained.
Minister Criticises Previous Government Approach
The Roads Minister also criticised the handling of road projects by the previous administration following the 2016 elections. According to him, road construction activities suffered setbacks because projects were suspended under the justification of conducting investigations.
Hon. Agbodza argued that the delays contributed to the collapse of some road programmes, including cocoa road projects. “As a result, I actually consider the collapse of the cocoa road project because of the delay,” he stated.
He contrasted that approach with what he described as President Mahama’s policy of continuity and project completion. “This is what reset means to President Mahama,” he said.
Contractor Assures Completion Timeline
According to Hon Agbodza, the contractor handling the Suame Interchange project has assured the government that a major section of the road currently under construction will be completed by the end of this year.
The Minister described the progress as positive news for residents and businesses within the Ashanti Region. “This is very good to Asanteman,” he added.
He further assured the public that the entire interchange project remains on schedule for completion. “We are still back on schedule to complete the interchange itself,” Hon. Agbodza noted.
Government Commits Extra 3 Billion Cedis for Outer Ring Road
The Minister for Roads and Highways, Hon. Governs Kwame Agbodza, also announced additional government investment into the Kumasi Outer Ring Road project, also known as the bypass project.
According to him, the government has committed approximately 3 billion Ghana cedis toward the 47-kilometre road project to improve connectivity and reduce traffic congestion in Kumasi. Hon. Agbodza stressed that the new funding for the bypass project would not affect financing for the Suame Interchange project.
“In effect, we are not taking a cedi out of the Suame Interchange project. We are rather adding three billion Ghana cedis to enhance the impact of this and the bypass”.
Minister for Roads and Highways, Hon. Governs Kwame Agbodza,
The Minister said the combined projects are expected to significantly improve transportation infrastructure and economic activity in the Ashanti Region.
Government Reassures Ashanti Region
Hon. Agbodza assured residents of the Ashanti Region that the Mahama administration remains committed to completing all ongoing projects under the Big Push infrastructure programme.
“Asanteman can rest assured that President Mahama means well,” he stated. According to him, the government intends to complete the entire Suame Interchange project by the end of 2028, while work progresses simultaneously on the Outer Ring Road.
The Minister added that while work on the broader interchange continues, the section currently under construction would become operational by the end of this year.
The Suame Interchange and Outer Ring Road projects form part of the government’s wider Big Push initiative aimed at accelerating road infrastructure development across the country.
The programme seeks to improve transportation networks, ease congestion, and support economic growth through large scale investments in roads and public infrastructure.
Government officials maintain that the programme remains central to the administration’s economic transformation agenda despite current fiscal pressures.
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Keywords: road construction, infrastructure development, Ghana economy, road arrears, Ministry of Roads and Highways, cocoa roads, construction projects, Asanteman, Ghana development
