Ghana Construction Chamber Engages Roads Minister on Sector Challenges and Reintroduction of Road Tolls——The Ghana Construction Chamber has paid a courtesy call on the Minister for Roads and Highways, Mr. Governs Kwame Agbodza, to discuss issues affecting the construction sector.
The discussions covered the reintroduction of road tolls, the Ministry’s outstanding debts to contractors, the management of the Road Fund, the effectiveness of the District Road Improvement Programme (DRIP), and the role of public-private partnerships (PPPs) in advancing Ghana’s road network.
At the meeting, the Chamber raised concerns over delayed payments to contractors, which have led to slow work, and putting pressure on businesses financially.
In response, Mr. Agbodza acknowledged these challenges and assured that the government was working on solutions to settle outstanding debts, mentioning that the government plans to un-cap the Road Fund to mobilize additional resources to ease the financial burden on the sector.
However, he reaffirmed the government’s decision to reintroduce road tolls as a key measure for sustainable road infrastructure funding.
He announced that toll collection would be modernized through a digital system, ensuring efficiency, transparency, and ease of payment for road users.
He emphasized that this digital transformation would not only enhance revenue collection but also reduce traffic congestion at toll booths, minimize revenue leakages, and improve accountability. Revenue from the tolls, he assured, would be deposited into a dedicated account strictly for road maintenance and development.
Speaking on Public Private Partnerships, he reiterated the government’s commitment to fostering strategic partnerships with private investors to mobilize resources for critical road projects.
He highlighted efforts to improve contractual agreements, provide incentives for private sector involvement, and implement long-term infrastructure maintenance strategies to ensure the sustainability of road projects.
Mr. Agbodza disclosed that ongoing discussions with the Ministry of Local Government aim to establish a plant pool under DRIP, which will provide local contractors with access to essential equipment and resources.
The Chamber welcomed this initiative and stressed the importance of continuous evaluation to identify areas for improvement.
