Government committed to completing abandoned roads - Agbodza

The Minister-Designate for Roads and Highways, Kwame Governs Agbodza has assured that the government is committed to completing ongoing projects, particularly road construction, to address traffic congestion and improve accessibility across the country.

He explained that while the government will initiate new projects based on necessity, the primary focus will be on finishing roads that were abandoned by the previous administration.

Mr. Agbodza, who also serves as the Member of Parliament for Adaklu Constituency in the Volta Region under the National Democratic Congress, made these remarks during his vetting by the Parliamentary Appointments Committee on Monday, January 20, 2025.

"The President has already given the indication that he will complete ongoing projects. So we have made that commitment and we intend to follow that. I can foresee a situation where out of need we may have to start some new projects to address urgent issues," he said. 

"But firstly, our commitment will be to focus on critical road projects which have been abandoned to make them comfortable for the use to which it was originally intended. Once you abandone the roads it becomes a huge problem," he added.

In response to a question about how he plans to fund the $10 billion "Big Push," President John Mahama's initiative for infrastructure development, he said: "As the sector minister, it is my responsibility to identify critical road projects, package them after design, ensure they meet the required value for money and specifications, and present them to the Minister of Finance for funding."

He added, "The Big Push is a four-year, $10 billion proposal. The projects included in this initiative must be cutting-edge and make a significant impact in their respective sectors. So they are not necessarily road projects worth 10 billion. They are just big, significant infrastructure projects worth 10 billion."