The Minister for Roads and Highways, Hon. Kwame Governs Agbodza, has attributed the stalled construction of the Tema-Aflao road to the debt restructuring directive issued by former Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta. According to Hon.
Agbodza, the decision to halt payments to contractors under the debt restructuring programmed was the primary cause of delays in several key road projects.
“It is about the debt restructuring. That infamous letter by Ken Ofori-Atta stating that we are not going to pay our debt and that contractors should stop work is actually the genesis of some of these delays. This is a lesson to all politicians. You don’t just take pen and paper and write directives without considering the impact on those who have risked their money on critical national projects,” he stated.
Despite these setbacks, Hon. Agbodza assured the public that the government remains committed to completing the Tema-Aflao road project.
He urged contractors to demonstrate dedication, emphasizing that their relationship with the government extends beyond a single project.
“We are going to complete this project, and I am once again appealing to the contractors: show commitment. This is not the last work you will do with the government. You want a lasting relationship, so show commitment,” he urged.
The Minister also expressed gratitude to local contractors who have continued their work despite challenges.
He referenced the example of Oswald Construction, which took over work on the Adenta-Dodowa road after Synohydro halted operations, highlighting the remarkable progress made.
“Look at when Synohydro decided not to continue the Adenta to Dodowa project. Look at the speed at which Oswald Construction took over—the entire alignment is done, and almost all the concrete work on that road is completed,” he noted.
The Minister for Roads and Highways, Hon. Kwame Governs Agbodza has reaffirmed the government’s resolve to see the Tema-Aflao project through and called on all stakeholders to collaborate for the benefit of the nation.
Story by Freedom Lavoe
