The Minority Chief Whip Kwame Governs Agbodza has called out Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia for failing to substantiate the government’s claims of constructing 10,800 kilometres of new roads.
These claims, first made during the 2022 State of the Nation Address, have since come under scrutiny, with Hon. Agbodza leading the charge against what he described as a significant misrepresentation of the government’s achievements in road infrastructure.
“The claims of constructing 10,800 kilometres of new roads have proven to be unfounded. The government’s recent emphasis on routine maintenance and rehabilitation work over new road construction is a clear attempt to mask their failure to deliver on their promises.”
Minority Chief Whip Kwame Governs Agbodza
To bolster his argument, Hon. Agbodza drew a comparison between the current administration and that of former President John Mahama, emphasizing the substantial road development achieved under Mahama’s leadership, despite facing budgetary constraints.
According to Hon. Agbodza, President Mahama’s administration, operating with an approximately GHS 50 billion budget for the 2016 fiscal year, managed to deliver significant road infrastructure.
Hon. Agbodza cited specific figures to illustrate the differences in performance between the two administrations. “For comparison, the 2017 budget detailed 10,723.49 kilometres of trunk roads, 16,183 kilometres of feeder roads, and 9,384 kilometres of urban roads,” Hon. Agbodza noted.
In contrast, Hon. Agbodza highlighted that the 2024 budget report revealed a marked decline in the extent of road infrastructure development under the current government. According to the budget, only 4,809 kilometres of trunk roads, 8,984 kilometres of feeder roads, and 2,318 kilometres of urban roads have been constructed, representing a significant reduction compared to previous years.
“This is a dramatic reduction in road infrastructure, and it shows that the current administration is delivering less value to Ghanaians despite claiming otherwise,” Hon. Agbodza argued, underscoring the discrepancy between the government’s assertions and the actual progress made.
Accusations of Misleading the Public
Hon. Agbodza’s statement also included a broader accusation against the Akufo-Addo administration, accusing them of misleading the public with inflated claims of road construction achievements.
Hon. Agbodza argued that the government’s strategy of focusing on routine maintenance and rehabilitation, rather than new construction, is indicative of a broader pattern of overpromising and underdelivering.
“The comparison clearly shows that with less financial resources, President Mahama was able to deliver more robust road infrastructure than the current government,” Hon. Agbodza asserted, framing the issue as one of competence and efficiency in the use of public funds.
This criticism comes in the wake of the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) launch of their 2024 election manifesto, in which government officials, including Vice President Dr. Bawumia, touted the current administration’s achievements in road construction as unprecedented.
Hon. Agbodza’s comments are likely to intensify the ongoing debate over the government’s infrastructure record, particularly as the country gears up for the 2024 general elections.
Hon. Agbodza’s critique is part of a broader narrative being pushed by the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), which seeks to position itself as the more effective manager of the nation’s resources, particularly in the area of infrastructure development.
By drawing a sharp contrast between the road infrastructure delivered under Mahama and that under the current administration, the NDC aims to weaken the NPP’s claims of superior governance.
Hon. Kwame Governs Agbodza’s critique of Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia highlighted a significant point of contention in the political discourse surrounding Ghana’s road infrastructure.
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