The Ghana Institution of Surveyors (GhIS) has cautioned public authorities against automatically interpreting differences between compensation claims and assessments by acquiring authorities as evidence of fraud or professional misconduct.

The Institution’s position follows comments by the Minister for Roads and Highways, Governs Kwame Agbodza, that the government was considering reporting two quantity surveyors to the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) over alleged attempts to inflate compensation claims for properties affected by road projects.

Mr Agbodza alleged that some surveyors encourage project-affected persons to reject government valuations and promise to secure compensation several times higher than amounts assessed by state agencies.

He said such practices had cost the state significant sums and contributed to delays in the execution of road projects.

GhIS calls for case-by-case assessment

In a statement dated August 21, 2026, GhIS said it took the concerns seriously but stressed that disputed compensation assessments should be examined individually and supported by evidence before any conclusions were drawn about professional conduct.

“A difference between a compensation claim or independent valuation and an assessment by an acquiring authority does not, without more, constitute evidence of professional misconduct or deliberate inflation,” the Institution said.

GhIS explained that differences in compensation figures could legitimately arise from several factors, including the interests affected, heads of claim, valuation methodologies, market evidence, assumptions and consequential losses.

The Institution therefore urged authorities to assess disputed compensation claims on their individual merits and consider the evidence and methodology underpinning each valuation.

It cautioned against drawing conclusions about professional misconduct solely from differences between amounts claimed by affected persons or their representatives and the figures assessed by acquiring authorities.

GhIS said a proper assessment of the circumstances surrounding each disputed claim would help ensure that legitimate compensation rights are protected while any instances of professional misconduct or deliberate inflation are appropriately identified and addressed.