Kwame Governs Agbodza, the Minister-Designate for Roads and Highways, has debunked claims by former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo that his administration constructed 11,000 kilometres of new roads during its tenure from 2017 to January 2025.
Speaking during his vetting before Parliament’s Appointments Committee on Monday, January 20, Agbodza cited official records to counter the former President’s assertion, stating that only 673 kilometres of entirely new roads were built under the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government.
Focus on Re-Gravelling, Not New Construction
Agbodza clarified that the NPP’s road achievements primarily consisted of re-gravelling and gravelling existing roads, which accounted for 6,185.90 kilometres of the reported works. While he acknowledged the importance of maintenance activities like re-gravelling, he argued that these cannot be equated to the construction of new roads.
“The record in Parliament clearly shows that Ghana did not construct 11,000 kilometres of new roads since 2017. Instead, the actual new roads built amounted to 673 kilometres, with the bulk of the work being re-gravelling and gravelling,” he asserted.
Transparency in Infrastructure Reporting
The Minister-Designate emphasized the need for transparency and accuracy in reporting road infrastructure achievements.
“While maintenance and upgrades are essential, we must be truthful in differentiating them from new road construction. Factual reporting is critical to maintaining public trust,” he said.
Agbodza’s clarification adds a significant perspective to ongoing debates about the NPP administration’s infrastructure legacy, highlighting discrepancies in reported achievements versus official data.