Roads Minister vows to recover $30m paid for incomplete infrastructure project

Ghana’s Minister for Roads and Highways, Kwame Governs Agbodza, has revealed that nearly $30 million has already been paid to a contractor for the Tamale-Walewale Road project, despite the fact that only one percent of the work has been completed.

Speaking in Parliament on Thursday, June 5, 2025, Mr. Agbodza expressed deep concern over the situation, noting that even the site clearing is barely done. The project, launched in June 2022 with much public attention, has since been abandoned.

According to the Minister, the total estimated cost of the road project is $158.6 million. Yet, $29.6 million has been received by the contractor, with little to show for it.

“To compound the situation,” he added, “the same contractor is reportedly seeking an additional $14 million in order to terminate the contract and walk away with the initial payment.”

Mr. Agbodza described the situation as frustrating, particularly given the government’s financial constraints and its outstanding debts to other contractors. “As a Roads Minister, knowing that I owe Ghanaian contractors over GH¢21 billion for work they have genuinely done, it is quite disheartening that at the same time we are unable to pay Ghanaian contractors, we have paid somebody $30 million. And the person is basically asking us to let him go with our $30 million,” he said.

The Minister made it clear that steps would be taken to recover the money or demand that work be done to match the payments already received. “We shall be able to use the laws within our country to demand that $30 million worth of work is done, or we take legal actions to make sure that we retrieve it,” he stated.

This situation raises serious questions about transparency, oversight, and accountability in the management of public infrastructure contracts. With national debt rising and many sectors in need of investment, the government now faces pressure to show that public funds are being responsibly managed.

Legal efforts are expected to begin soon as part of the push to reclaim the funds or force completion of the road project.