The Minister for Roads and Highways, Governs Kwame Agbodza, has cautioned members of the newly inaugurated governing board of the Road Maintenance Trust Fund against mismanaging resources allocated to the institution.

Addressing board members during their inaugural ceremony, he stressed that the fund exists solely for improving Ghana’s road network—not for personal benefit.

“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,” he warned.

Mr Agbodza stated that the ministry deliberately held back from spending the 2025 allocation until the new board was in place to ensure transparency and collective oversight.

He noted that President John Mahama created the restructured fund to improve accountability, allowing Parliament to have a direct say in how resources are allocated.

“Accountability must be upscaled,” he said, explaining the rationale behind transforming the former road fund into a statutory trust.

The minister made a strong case for prioritising payments to Small and Medium Contractors (SMCs), whom he described as the backbone of routine road maintenance.

“They are the ones who weed the roadside, desilt culverts, and do little pothole patching,” he said. Despite their importance, he noted that SMCs receive the least allocation, with many not paid since 2019.

Mr Agbodza said the board must ensure that SMCs are placed at the top of the payment schedule under the trust fund.

“We would encourage you to prioritise paying SMCs as against paying big contractors,” he affirmed, expressing optimism that many of them may receive payments before Christmas. “This narrative must change,” he added, stressing the urgency of supporting small contractors who keep communities accessible and safe.

He commended the calibre of individuals appointed to the board, including engineers, surveyors, traditional leaders, representatives from the Attorney General’s Department and Parliament, and members of 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