The Minister of Roads and Highways, Governs Kwame Agbodza, has warned GoEnergy Company Limited (GOE), a wholly owned subsidiary of Goil Plc, to ensure the timely and consistent supply of bitumen to road contractors to prevent delays in ongoing road construction projects across Ghana.
The minister explained that the government had deliberately channelled a significant portion of its bitumen procurement through GoEnergy to secure competitive prices and establish a dependable supply chain for road infrastructure development.
However, he stressed that the arrangement must not result in shortages or delays, warning that the government would consider alternative suppliers if the company failed to meet the required demand.
Mr Agbodza stated that the government had initially prioritised GoEnergy to give the company a competitive advantage, but contractors’ access to essential road construction materials must remain a priority.
“We decided that much of the bitumen product would come from GoEnergy but if they are not able to supply the required quantities, we will have to take a different route and look for alternative suppliers,” he said.
The minister made the remarks on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, while leading a team of engineers to inspect ongoing reconstruction works on the 53.35-kilometre Have–Hohoe road in the Volta Region.
He reiterated that the government could not afford to wait indefinitely for bitumen supplies, particularly when delays in obtaining the material threatened the timely completion of major road projects.
Contractor Blames Bitumen Shortages for Have–Hohoe Road Delays
Mr Agbodza’s comments followed concerns about the slow pace of work by Greenhouse International Development (GH) Limited, the contractor responsible for the Have–Hohoe road reconstruction project.
The construction company attributed some of the delays to difficulties in accessing bitumen, a critical material used in asphalt production and road surfacing.
Speaking on behalf of the contractor, the company’s Administrator, Gerome Chen, identified inconsistent bitumen supplies as one of the major challenges affecting construction activities.
According to him, the required material reportedly arrived on September 10, contributing to disruptions in the company’s operational schedule.
Mr Chen explained that the company uses Performance Grade (PG) bitumen for asphalt production but faces difficulties sourcing the material because of the limited number of suppliers in Ghana.
He disclosed that the country experienced a shortage of PG bitumen between September 10 and October 20, 2026, making it difficult for contractors relying on the specialised asphalt binder to maintain their construction schedules.
“Sometimes, because our asphalt is PG, Ghana has only one company that can provide good bitumen. From September 10 to October 20, this year Ghana did not have PG bitumen,” he said.
Government Prioritises Reliable Bitumen Supply for Road Projects
Performance Grade bitumen is a specialised asphalt binder classified according to its ability to withstand different high and low pavement temperatures. It is widely used in road construction to improve pavement performance and durability under varying weather and traffic conditions.
Responding to the contractor’s concerns, Mr Agbodza maintained that the government’s decision to rely heavily on GoEnergy was intended to take advantage of the company’s supply capacity while obtaining bitumen at competitive prices.
He, however, emphasised that the policy must not create bottlenecks that undermine road infrastructure development.
The minister noted that road contractors require uninterrupted access to essential construction materials to maintain project schedules, accelerate construction activities and complete government-funded projects within their agreed timelines.
He further stressed that although the government remained committed to reducing road construction costs through competitive procurement, the availability of bitumen must not become an obstacle to delivering critical road infrastructure.
The government is therefore expected to prioritise reliable bitumen supplies to ensure that ongoing road construction and rehabilitation projects across the country progress without unnecessary interruptions.
Source: newsthemegh.com