The Minister of Roads and Highways, Kwame Governs Agbodza, has expressed concern over the failure of some Regional Directors of the Ghana Highways Authority to promptly report contractors who are delaying the execution of road projects.

He described the situation as unacceptable, stressing that officials responsible for monitoring road works must identify challenges early and take appropriate action instead of waiting for ministerial inspections to reveal problems at project sites.

Mr. Agbodza made the remarks on Wednesday, July 8, during an inspection of major road projects across the Eastern, Volta and Oti Regions, where he urged Regional Directors and engineers to take greater responsibility for ensuring contractors comply with agreed timelines and contractual obligations.

The Minister said technical officers must provide regular updates on project progress, enforce contract terms and ensure that underperforming contractors are held accountable for delays.

He questioned why some Regional Directors fail to notify him about challenges affecting road projects, suggesting that some may be reluctant to confront contractors over poor performance.

“I do not know why you do not come to me to inform me that the contractors are not working, but rather I have to be on the grounds to find out that contractors are not working. Or you do not want to offend the contractors, and if you do not want to offend them, then this is not your job,” he stated.

Mr. Agbodza further emphasised that effective supervision by technical officials is critical to ensuring value for money and the timely completion of road projects. He urged officials of the Ghana Highways Authority to strengthen monitoring mechanisms and ensure that challenges affecting projects are addressed quickly to avoid unnecessary delays.