New Road Fund Board Ensures Fair Resource Allocation Nationwide

The newly inaugurated governing board of the Road Maintenance Trust Fund has been tasked with ensuring a fair and transparent distribution of resources for road upkeep across all constituencies in Ghana.

Roads and Highways Minister, Governs Kwame Agbodza, stated that the restructuring of the fund represents a significant departure from previous practices, where spending decisions were largely at the discretion of the ministry.

“In the past, it could happen that some parts of the country may never see any significant expenditure… simply because it was so discretionary,” the Minister recalled.

Addressing the board at the ministry, Mr. Agbodza explained that the new law, Act 1147, grants Parliament the authority to determine how the fund is allocated, guaranteeing that every constituency receives attention. This change, he emphasized, was a direct response to public calls for improved road conditions and increased accountability.

“Every constituency in Ghana will see an amount of money allocated for minimum road maintenance activity,” he assured the board.

He further noted that the re-enactment of the fund aims to bolster accountability and shield its resources from legal challenges that previously led to substantial losses. “Contractors we owe go to court, get judgment, and sometimes basically take all the monies that belong to everybody,” he said, highlighting the need for safeguards to prevent such occurrences and ensure funds are used for their intended purpose.

Acknowledging the challenges ahead, given the fund’s current financial difficulties and the outstanding payments to contractors, Mr. Agbodza urged the board to demonstrate strong leadership. “We want you to focus on ensuring that works being done by the agencies are carried out according to the law and specifications, and you certify and pay them accordingly,” he instructed.

The Minister expressed his confidence in the board’s ability to effectively manage the fund, citing the diverse expertise of its members, drawn from engineering, surveying, traditional leadership, Parliament, and civil society. “The caliber of people on this board are capable of providing leadership… Ghana looks forward with great hopes that under your tenure we are going to see improvement,” he concluded.

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