Big Push: Major Road Projects Hit 50% Completion – Sector Minister
Minister for Roads and Highways, Governs Kwame Agbodza, has disclosed that Ghana’s infrastructure drive under the ‘Big Push’ programme is beginning to show measurable progress, with several contractors already completing significant portions of major trunk road projects, the
Speaking on PM Express on Joy News, the Adaklu MP said construction work is actively underway on key transport corridors considered critical to national trade, logistics and regional connectivity.
“Every segment of these roads is under construction. We have various degrees of levels of completion. Some contractors have done 50% of the work already,” he said.
The minister explained that the first phase of the Big Push initiative is targeting trunk roads, which play a central role in moving goods, linking regional capitals and supporting economic activity across the country.
“The trunk roads are like the spine, so the roads leading to connect the regional capitals back to the national capital,” he noted.
Mr. Agbodza highlighted major corridors currently under construction, including the Western route from Takoradi through Wenchi to Wa, the Eastern corridor from Tema through Hohoe to Jasikan, and the central transport route linking Accra, Kumasi and Tamale.
Despite the scale of the investment, the minister acknowledged that the poor condition of the country’s trunk roads has long affected transport efficiency and economic productivity.
“The truth is that none of those roads is in good condition, and it is common knowledge that the Ghanaian has been very unhappy with the level of investment,” he said.
However, he indicated that contractors are now working at a much faster pace, with some projects likely to be completed earlier than expected.
“One or two of those contractors may actually attempt to finish their entire work by the close of this year, which is unprecedented,” he revealed.
Mr. Agbodza attributed the improved pace to extended working hours and on-site operational changes designed to reduce downtime.
“They are working overnight 24/7, so they have three shifts,” he said.
“Instead of lunch closing and then letting people go and eat, they hire the local choba owners to come and cook on site. So when it’s time for lunch, everybody just goes and eats, paid for by the contractor, and spends a little bit of time, then comes back,” he added.
He said several contractors have maintained this round-the-clock schedule for months, making it possible to accelerate delivery timelines.
“Some of them have been doing this for the past four months, constantly working 24/7; no doubt they can finish ahead of schedule,” he said.
The minister also pointed to structural changes in project execution, particularly the decision to divide large road contracts into smaller lots to improve efficiency and competitiveness.
“There are nine different lots now, so we gave it to nine different contractors, maybe 25 or 30 kilometres each. It generates peer pressure that my colleague is running ahead of schedule. I need to work hard as well,” he added.
According to Roads Minister, the impact of the ongoing works is already being felt in parts of the country, with previously difficult routes gradually becoming more accessible for transport operators and businesses.
“Some of the roads that you regret driving on are now good news,” he noted.
He cited improvements on the Hohoe corridor, where major intercity transport operators have begun to resume services.
“In fact, this evening, I just saw a post from the MP for Hohoe that STC and VIP have started going to Hohoe. In the past, they couldn’t because the road was in such a bad condition,” the sector minister said.
The Roads and Highways Minister maintained that once the current projects are completed, key national corridors will be upgraded into high-quality asphalt roads capable of supporting long-term economic growth and regional trade.
