Francis Asenso-Boakye, the former minister of roads and highways, has denied claims made by Kwame Governs Agbodza, the minister-designate for roads and highways, claiming the Akufo-Addo administration built about 673 kilometers of new roads in its eight years in office.
Asenso-Boakye denied the allegation during a speech in Parliament on Tuesday, January 21, 2025, stating that the transition report shows that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government constructed 13,624 kilometers of roads between 2017 and 2025.
“Honourable Speaker, as of December 2024, the Akufo-Addo government had constructed 13,624 kilometres of road.”
“This figure far surpasses the 4,630 kilometres constructed by the previous government in eight years,” he stated.
Agbodza was criticized by Asenso-Boakye for presenting a distorted picture of the NPP government’s accomplishments by concentrating only on the 673 kilometers of recently built roads.
He stressed that the administration’s efforts to strengthen the nation’s road network included bridge construction, reconstruction, re-graveling, and asphalt overlays, all of which were vital.
Major cities such Ghana Accra, Kumasi, Sunyani, and Takoradi experienced notable improvements in road quality due to asphalt overlays. About 6,000 kilometers of gravel roads were finished, which was very advantageous for rural communities.
1,665 kilometers of roads were rebuilt or enhanced in terms of rehabilitation and improvement.
To increase connectivity, 35 bridges were built around the country.
“These projects, especially in rural areas, are vital for linking communities and improving accessibility.”
“‘Dismissing them simply because they are not newly constructed roads undermines their value,” Asenso-Boakye reiterated.
The Bantama MP emphasized that upkeep, repairs, and improvements are necessary for a resilient and sustainable road network and asked Parliament and the general people to recognize the wider breadth of road infrastructure development under the NPP administration.
Source: newsthemegh.com