Speaking at the sod-cutting ceremony for the Big Push project in Ho, Volta Region, Mr Agbodza explained that the move is aimed at accelerating road construction and ensuring timely delivery.

“Under the Big Push, all the projects are going to be done under a 24-hour economy. Day and night, they have to work,” he said.

He expressed confidence that the contractors selected for the projects had the capacity to deliver within schedule.

“Mr President, we are very convinced that the selection of contractors that will work on this road, from Atimpoku to Aflao, can complete the work within 24 months. Mr President, the section where we are doing the sod cutting belongs to a company called First Sky. Mr President, I can tell you First Sky can do this work in less than 24 months,” he stated.

Mr Agbodza further challenged the contractors to prove that Ghanaian firms can deliver world-class infrastructure, stressing that shoddy work will not be tolerated. He directed all contractors to secure comprehensive insurance for their projects.

“If you do a bad job, we shall ask the insurer to repair the road,” he warned.

The Roads Minister also urged contractors to expand their workforce to speed up delivery while creating jobs for the youth and graduates in engineering and construction-related fields.

“There are a lot of young people who have graduated from universities with degrees in Quantity Surveying, Civil Engineering, and Management. I want to encourage the contractors to take these graduates and mentor them to become contractors and engineers when you and I are not here,” he added.

Big Push In The Volta Region

The road project under the Big Push Initiative in the Volta Region has been divided into nine lots, stretching 177 kilometres from Atimpoku through Asikuma, Ho, Kpetoe, Ave Afiadenyigba, and Penyi to Aflao. The design also includes a proposed bypass at Aflao along the beach to the border.

The works, being executed by Messrs First Sky Limited and eight other contractors, will include road widening, strengthening of pavements, upgrading to asphaltic surfacing, replacement of weak culverts, and installation of road safety measures.

The Big Push programme, officially launched by President Mahama at Afienya in the Greater Accra Region on Tuesday, September 16, has an allocation of GH¢13.85 billion (US$892.9 million) and covers 42 road projects nationwide.

Source: Fred Quame Asare

Speaking during his vetting before the Appointments Committee of Parliament on Monday, January 20, 2025, Agbodza disclosed that the road sector’s total debt stands at a staggering GH₵100 billion in commitments.

This includes GH₵20 billion in unpaid government certificates and an additional GH₵15 billion owed to the Road Fund.

The Minister-Designate attributed the ballooning debt to the previous New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration, highlighting the need for urgent financial restructuring.

“In 2017, my predecessor expressed concerns over a GH₵17 billion commitment debt and GH₵1.5 billion in unpaid certificates left by the NDC government. However, as of January 2025, the NPP government has left a minimum of GHS 100 billion in commitments, GH₵20 billion in unpaid certificates, and GH₵15 billion in Road Fund debts,” he stated.

Kwame Agbodza also revealed that a GH₵113 million debt in 2018 has now ballooned to GHS 665 million due to accumulated interest. By 2020, the debt had grown to GH₵424 million, with accrued interest pushing it to GH₵1.5 billion.

“These figures are alarming. How do I explain to taxpayers in Adaklu that interest alone on debts from previous years now amounts to billions? This is unsustainable,” he said.

He further outlined the need for better contract management and financial accountability within the sector, pointing out that wasteful spending has exacerbated the financial strain.

Mr Agbodza pledged to collaborate with the Finance Ministry, should he be approved, to address the growing debt and ensure more prudent management of resources in the road sector. He concluded emphatically, “This cannot continue.”

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Speaking during his vetting by Parliament’s Appointments Committee on January 20, 2025, Mr Agbodza responded to questions from Jerry Ahmed Shuaib, MP for Weija-Gbawe, about the poor state of street lighting nationwide.

“It is strange that you drive in parts of our city at night, and the roads are not illuminated well,” Agbodza remarked. “There’s no signage, there’s nothing.”

He explained that delays in paying contractors, coupled with 30 percent interest rates on arrears, have led many banks to withdraw support for financing these projects. “The solution is prompt payment,” Mr. Agbodza stated.

Regarding the ongoing renovation of the Accra-Tema Motorway, he said the project’s contractual framework complicates immediate fixes to lighting issues.

“We may have to provide a temporary situation,” he acknowledged, referring to the challenges posed by construction work on the motorway.

Mr Agbodza also highlighted the fragmented responsibility for street lighting, spread across the Ministry of Local Government, Ministry of Energy, and local assemblies.

He noted that this division of roles has hindered effective management, citing issues in his own Adaklu constituency as an example.

To resolve the problem, the Minister-designate proposed reforms to the payment system for contractors.

However, he stressed that this would require collaboration with key stakeholders, including the Ministry of Finance and the Attorney General’s office.

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Speaking during his vetting by the Parliamentary Appointments Committee on Monday, January 20, 2025, Mr. Agbodza revealed that the project, which was intended to enhance border management and streamline immigration processes, ended up costing the state millions of dollars despite alternative arrangements that would have incurred no expenses.

“It was part of an integrated project being implemented by the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority, which would have provided the E-Gate system for free. Why are we paying even a dollar for something we should not have paid for at all?” he questioned.

Citing a memo from the Ministry of Finance dated March 19, 2024, Mr. Agbodza disclosed that the project’s final proposal valued it at $147.7 million, with a 10-year management and maintenance contract attached. However, he pointed out that there was no value-for-money assessment conducted before implementation.

Background of the E-Gate Project

The E-Gate system was introduced at KIA as part of efforts to modernize airport operations and align with international standards.

The project aimed to reduce delays in immigration clearance and enhance the passenger experience by using biometric technology to automate the entry and exit process for travelers.

The initiative was launched in phases, with some gates operational by late 2023. The government promoted the project as a significant technological upgrade to boost security and efficiency at the country’s premier airport.

However, questions about transparency and the cost of implementation quickly surfaced, drawing scrutiny from civil society organizations and members of parliament.

Initial proposals for the project, spearheaded by the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), reportedly included provisions for funding through a private-sector partnership that would have incurred no cost to the government.

However, the Ghana Immigration Service later assumed responsibility for the project, a move Mr. Agbodza contended was improper and deviated from international protocols.

Immigration Service’s Role Questioned

The Roads and Highways minister-designate further criticized the Ghana Immigration Service for spearheading the project, arguing that its execution should have fallen under the purview of the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority.

According to him, the Immigration Service’s involvement contravened a United Nations Security Council resolution that mandates such projects to be handled by aviation authorities.

“The few physical E-Gates that have been installed cost $1.75 million, yet there was no proper contract backing it. This lack of clarity created the embarrassment we saw during the commissioning of the project by the former Vice President,” he noted.

A Larger Systemic Problem

Mr. Agbodza linked the mismanagement of the KIA E-Gate project to a broader issue of project implementation inefficiencies within the country.

He expressed concern over how road construction and other public works projects are contracted, often leading to exorbitant costs through compounded interest on unpaid debts.

“The E-Gate project is just one example of how public funds are wasted. If we continue this way, we cannot make sustainable progress,” he warned.

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The vetting provides an opportunity for the nomination of the Adaklu MP to be scrutinised as he presents his vision for enhancing Ghana’s road infrastructure.

The chartered architect and politician has been in parliament since 2013 and has risen through Parliament’s ranks, serving as Deputy Ranking Member, Ranking Member, Minority Chief Whip, and Majority Chief Whip.

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President John Dramani Mahama nominated Mr. Agbodza on Thursday, January 16, 2025.

“Your nomination is well deserved,” the congratulatory message, signed by Mr. Hayford Amenuvie, Constituency Secretary, and copied to the Ghana News Agency at Adaklu Waya, said on Saturday.

It noted that Mr. Agbodza’s tireless efforts in ensuring development, creating employment opportunities for the youth through apprenticeship, and driving progressive initiatives in the constituency had not gone unnoticed.

“Your dedication, passion, and commitment to the welfare of the people are truly inspiring,” the statement said.

It expressed confidence that he would bring the same level of enthusiasm and expertise to his new role as the Minister for Roads and Highways if confirmed.

“We wish you strength, wisdom, and success as you embark on this new journey and look forward to the positive impact you will make in bringing more development projects to the constituency, Volta Region, and Ghana at large.”

Mr. Jerry Ameko, the Adaklu Constituency NDC Chairman, told the GNA that he was optimistic Mr. Agbodza would perform to the expectations of Ghanaians and make the party proud.

He admitted that some of the road networks in the country were in poor condition but pleaded with Ghanaians to exercise patience as the government worked to fix them.

Mr. Ameko commended the people for voting massively for the party and assured them of more development projects under the President Mahama-led government.

Meanwhile, Tsiami Kpotaka, the linguist of Togbe Lablulu Tegbeza IV of Adaklu Waya, led some chiefs to the party office at Adaklu Waya to thank the gods for the nomination of Mr. Agbodza as the Minister-designate for Roads and Highways.

They poured libation to the gods and asked for their protection over the nominee in his new role.

They thanked President Mahama for fulfilling his campaign promise to them to make Mr. Agbodza a minister if he won the election.

Mr. Agbodza, if confirmed, will be the second person from Adaklu to head the Roads and Highways Ministry in the Fourth Republic.

The first person was the late Steve Akorli, who was appointed in 2000 during the tenure of Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings.

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The nomination is pending his vetting by the Appointment Committee and parliamentary approval.

The announcement highlighted Mr Agbodza’s wealth of experience in both politics and professional practice, making him a strong candidate for the role.

The lawmaker is a distinguished Ghanaian architect and politician with an extensive background in architectural design and project management.

He holds qualifications from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and pursued further studies at Westminster and East London universities in the United Kingdom.

His professional expertise has been instrumental in delivering high-profile projects across multiple sectors.

As the Principal Consultant at Kay + Partners Ltd, Mr Agbodza has overseen significant developments in healthcare, education, and residential construction both in Ghana and the UK.

His work reflects a commitment to excellence and innovation, qualities he is expected to bring to his ministerial portfolio.

Since his election to Parliament in 2013, Mr Agbodza has steadily climbed the ranks, serving in various capacities including Deputy Ranking Member, Ranking Member, and Minority Chief Whip.

He is currently the Majority Chief Whip in the Ninth Parliament, having served in same capacity in the eighth Parliament.

Aside from his political and professional roles, Mr Agbodza is affiliated with prestigious organisations such as the Royal Institute of British Architects and the Ghana Institute of Architects.

Agbodza made these remarks at a campaign event in Adaklu Ahunda during a regional tour by Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, the running mate to the NDC’s presidential candidate.

His statements followed Speaker Alban Bagbin’s recent announcement that four parliamentary seats had been declared vacant.

Expressing confidence in returning as Majority Chief Whip, Agbodza dismissed any notion of a minority role, citing Article 97 of the 1992 Constitution, which he believes supports his stance on the vacant seats.

He noted that the four affected MPs had not contested the vacancy decision, effectively ending their status as Members of Parliament.

“I do not intend to be called Minority Leader in 2024, and that will not happen. I am returning to Parliament as Majority Chief Whip. Whoever disagrees is free to think otherwise. To me, the four seats are vacant in line with Article 97, and since the affected MPs have not challenged the decision, they no longer hold their seats.”

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