Minister's ex-aide pressured me for a cut over RM19m project fee, says witness

Governing Kwame Agbodza, the Minister of Roads and Highways, challenged Maripoma Enterprise Limited to expedite work on the Tema Motorway project and complete it by 2027, citing the need to reduce commuters' lengthy travel times. During an inspection of the Greater Accra Region's Big Push road projects, Agbodza urged the contractor to operate around the clock, especially carrying out disruptive construction work at night when traffic is lighter.

He acknowledged some progress but emphasized the necessity for further acceleration, stating that the contractor had completed roughly 10% more work since their last visit. Agbodza commended the contractor for finishing a significant bridge ahead of schedule and without any incidents, despite the intersection remaining in use throughout construction.

He urged the company to leverage the government's 24-hour economy policy, suggesting that the contractor should carry out more disruptive construction activities at night and reduce them during the day to minimize the impact on motorists. The minister expressed his hope that the contractor could meet the project's completion target, acknowledging the inconvenience motorists have faced during the construction period.

The Ghanaian public is eagerly awaiting tangible results from the government's spending on road projects, with the Minister estimating that over GH¢23 billion has been paid to road contractors, with a significant portion going towards inherited arrears.