Only 673km of new roads have been constructed since 2017 not 11,000km – Agbodza

The Minister-designate for Roads and Highways, Governs Kwame Agbodza, has stated that the claim made by former President Akufo-Addo regarding the construction of 11,000 kilometres is untrue, rather only 673 kilometres of new roads have been constructed since 2017.

Speaking during his vetting session with the Appointments Committee in Parliament, he admitted that at the time, it was challenging to contradict the president, whose sources of information were considered more authoritative.

However, Kwame Agbodza pointed out that the official transition report indicated that only 673 kilometres of new roads had been constructed. He explained that the remaining roads were primarily gravelling projects and other road improvement initiatives.

“Former President Akufo-Addo, as part of his constitutional mandate appeared before the house to update the house on the happenings in the country. He made us aware of a certain figure at that time, it was labelled new roads.

“It wasn’t pleasant at the time to contradict the president because his sources of information were better than mine. But a figure of 11,000km jumped out as new roads. My side said that was a bit less than the truth.

“Since then, the agencies under the road ministry attempted to adjust the figure. As part of the transition, they provided details. At the time of the transition the new roads were 673km which is not far from the 617km we talked about at the time because few more roads may have been completed. So, that issue is in the records of parliament that indeed Ghana did not construct 11, 000 new roads since 2017,” he said.