Roads Minister summons Accra-Kumasi Bypass consultant over absence from project site

Governs Kwame Agbodza, the Minister for Roads and Highways, has summoned ADK, the consultancy firm managing the Accra-Kumasi Bypass project, to justify their absence from the construction site. The absence of the consultant has raised concerns about the project's oversight and the procedures for certifying completed works for payment.

During an inspection on Tuesday, September 29, the Minister emphasized that consultants must be held responsible for the quality of infrastructure alongside contractors. He noted that while contractors often face blame for poor work, consultants also have a responsibility to ensure that construction meets required standards. The government engages private consulting firms due to a lack of engineers and quantity surveyors in public institutions, but firms awarded such contracts must maintain a presence on site and report progress regularly.

Agbodza expressed his dissatisfaction with the consultant's absence and stated that the Ghana Highway Authority had engaged third-party consultants with the necessary expertise. However, he questioned the lack of updates from the firm and warned that ADK risked losing the contract if it failed to provide a satisfactory explanation.

If ADK does not appear before the Ministry on Thursday to explain its absence, the Minister threatened to replace the firm with the Ghana Highway Authority to ensure the project's continued supervision. The Minister commended the workers at the site and urged them to maintain the pace of construction, reaffirming the government's commitment to completing the bypass, an important transport corridor.