Minister Warns Against Misuse of Road Maintenance Funds

Roads and Highways Minister, Governs Kwame Agbodza, has sternly warned the newly inaugurated governing board of the Road Maintenance Trust Fund against the misuse of allocated resources.

Addressing the board members at their inaugural ceremony, Mr. Agbodza emphasized that the fund’s sole purpose is the improvement of Ghana’s road network, not for personal enrichment.

“It is not a fund to fix your friends. It is not a fund to make your family happy. It is a fund to fix the roads in our country,” the Minister cautioned.

He revealed that the ministry intentionally delayed the disbursement of the 2025 allocation, awaiting the new board’s appointment to ensure transparency and collective responsibility in overseeing the funds.

Mr. Agbodza further explained that the restructured fund was initially established by former President John Mahama to enhance accountability, granting Parliament greater oversight of resource allocation.

“Accountability must be upscaled,” he stated, highlighting the rationale behind transforming the previous road fund into a statutory trust.

A key priority, the Minister stressed, is the prompt payment of Small and Medium Contractors (SMCs), whom he described as crucial to routine road maintenance. “They are the ones who weed the roadside, desilt culverts, and do little pothole patching,” he said.

He acknowledged that despite their vital role, SMCs often receive the smallest share of funding and have faced significant delays in payment, with many awaiting settlement since 2019.

“We would encourage you to prioritise paying SMCs as against paying big contractors,” Mr. Agbodza affirmed, expressing hope that many could receive payments before Christmas. “This narrative must change,” he added, underscoring the importance of supporting these contractors in maintaining accessible and safe communities.

The Minister commended the diverse expertise of the board members, including engineers, surveyors, traditional leaders, representatives from the Attorney General’s Department, Parliament, and civil society.

“Ghana looks forward with great hopes that under your tenure we are going to see improvement,” he concluded, before administering the oath of office.

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