The Minority Caucus in Parliament has indicated that more than 80 per cent of over 1,000 road projects inherited from the erstwhile NPP administration have been abandoned.

At a press conference in Parliament on Tuesday, March 24, the Ranking Member on the Roads and Transport Committee, Kennedy Nyarko Osei, disclosed that contractors had vacated sites across the country, with many fully demobilising equipment despite substantial public funds previously invested in the projects.

“At the point of transition, when the administration of Akufo-Addo handed over governance, there were over 1,000 road projects actively ongoing across the country.

"These projects, spanning all 16 regions and 261 Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies, were duly documented in the official handing over notes,” he told journalists.

“However, fifteen months into the administration of the Mahama government, more than 80 per cent of these projects have effectively been abandoned completely. Across the country, contractors have vacated sites, and in many cases, fully demobilised equipment.”

According to the Minority, the abandoned projects cut across key implementing agencies, including the Ghana Highway Authority, the Department of Urban Roads, and the Department of Feeder Roads.

Many of the projects, they noted, had reached advanced stages of completion before work stalled.

Mr Nyarko Osei cited the eight bypasses along the Accra-Kumasi Highway corridor as a clear example of the challenge.

Key sections, including the Osino, Anyinam, Enyiresi, and Konongo dual-carriageway bypasses, had recorded completion levels ranging from approximately 57 per cent to 93 per cent as of December 2024.

“Despite this substantial advancement, these road projects have been completely abandoned by the government,” he stated.

The Minority argued that the discontinuation of ongoing capital projects following a change in government represents a significant economic inefficiency.

“A change in government should not result in the discontinuation of ongoing capital projects, especially those financed by taxpayers.

"The abandonment of such a large portfolio of road projects not only leads to deterioration of partially completed works but also imposes additional future costs for rehabilitation and completion,” he said.

The Ranking Member further criticised what he described as a shift in focus toward new projects driven by partisan considerations, at the expense of completing inherited infrastructure.

“Had the current government prioritised the continuation and completion of these existing projects rather than redirecting resources into new road projects such as the ‘Big Push,’ it would have significantly improved connectivity nationwide and maximised returns on already committed public investments,” he added.

The press conference also touched on broader concerns within the transport sector, including the management of the Ghana Road Maintenance Trust Fund, where the Minority estimated outstanding arrears at approximately GH₵ 20 billion.

Mr Nyarko Osei noted that only GH₵ 1 billion had been released out of a total GH₵ 5.8 billion allocation for 2025 and 2026, a situation he described as inadequate to address the scale of obligations in the sector.

“Many contractors have already executed substantial portions of work that require continuity to prevent deterioration.

"However, due to delayed and insufficient payments, a significant number of contractors have completely abandoned project sites, awaiting the settlement of outstanding claims,” he said.

The Minority called on the government to prioritise clearing arrears, restore confidence among contractors, and ensure that infrastructure projects are not disrupted by political transitions.