Article 67 of Ghana’s 1992 Constitution makes it imperative for the President of the country to deliver to Parliament, the representation of the people, the State of the Nation.

Article 34 Clause 2 of the Constitution highlights cardinal areas the Address should cover; human rights, the economy, jobs, health and education.

On Wednesday, while obeying this constitutional imperative, Mr. President said that 10,885km roads have been constructed by his government in 5 years.

Journalism is a discipline of verification and beyond what we’re told by politicians. We, therefore, owe it a duty to go behind the veil and check the realities and report same.

Yes, this government has constructed roads. It is evident. But 10,885km?

I decided to track the Ministry of Roads' data as presented to Parliament by the Sector Minister, Kwasi Amoako-Attah.

The Minister on February 20, 2022, while speaking to Parliament, said a total of 4263.37Km of roads have been constructed so far.

https://mrh.gov.gh/roads-minister-presents-proof-of-roads-constructed-since-2017-to-parliament/ .

The summary of construction as captured in the documents indicated that between 2017 and May 2021, 1,463.36km of asphaltic overlays were undertaken; 837.27km of roads were rehabilitated; and 955.82km of roads were graveled or re-graveled.

The total of roads constructed from 2017 to May 2021 is 4263.37km.

Per what the President said on Wednesday, it means from June 2021 to date, 6,621.63Km of roads have been added. That is 10 months.

Several questions arise from this:

Which roads are these?

Can the Ministry furnish us with that list too?

What goes into the verification of data and brief given to the President?

It’s worrying to have these conjectures coming from the President. We need harmonization in data and metrics. We cannot develop with questionable data because we will be delusional in believing all is well when the reality says otherwise.

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The author, Eugene Osei Tutu, is an independent fact-checker.