The Minister of Roads and Highways, Governs Kwame Agbodza, has called for a review of the one-year defect liability period currently applied to road construction contracts in Ghana.
The Minister said the existing arrangement, which releases road contractors and consultants from liability after just 12 months, must be changed to ensure greater accountability in road construction and protect public investments in infrastructure.
According to Mr Agbodza, it is unreasonable for a contractor responsible for constructing a road expected to last several decades to remain liable for defects for only one year.
He explained that extending the defect liability period for road projects would ensure contractors remain responsible for construction defects that emerge after roads have been completed and opened to traffic.
“If you build a road that should last 30 years, why is the liability of a contractor only ending after one year; it should go a bit more than that,” he said.
Government Reviews Road Construction Contracts
Mr Agbodza disclosed that discussions were ongoing with the Ministers of Finance and Works and Housing to review the current defect liability arrangements.
He made the remarks on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, during an inspection of ongoing works on the Accra-Kumasi N6 highway.
The Roads and Highways Minister said the proposed changes were intended to make contractors and consultants more accountable for the quality and durability of roads constructed with taxpayers’ money.
He noted that road projects involve significant public expenditure and that government should not be left to bear the cost of repairing defects shortly after the expiration of the one-year liability period.
“After a road construction anything can go wrong but the idea that anytime we pay billions of cedis on a road and after one year we say that the defect liability period is gone and so if anything goes wrong it is not the fault of the contractor and the consultant must change,” he said.
Focus on Quality Road Infrastructure
Mr Agbodza said extending the liability period would help the government enforce road construction standards and ensure contractors comply fully with approved project specifications.
He explained that the Ministry of Roads and Highways had identified instances where construction works did not meet the required standards, making stronger monitoring and supervision necessary.
“We are trying to make sure that they are going by the specifications. And we’ve had quite a few occasions where we are getting mistakes,” he said.
The Minister said a longer defect liability period would also create an additional incentive for contractors to pay greater attention to the quality, durability and safety of their projects.
Such a policy, he noted, could help reduce premature deterioration of roads and minimise the need for frequent repairs and additional government expenditure.
Agbodza Backs Ghanaian Engineers and Contractors
The Roads and Highways Minister also expressed confidence in the ability of Ghanaian engineers and contractors to deliver road infrastructure that meets international standards.
“I believe the Ghanaian engineer is actually a very good engineer. I don’t think there’s anything that we can’t design and build here,” he said.
He stressed that the government was relying heavily on local expertise to execute durable road projects capable of serving motorists and communities for many years.
According to him, constructing roads that remain in good condition for longer periods would allow the government to use limited financial resources to expand the country’s road network and connect more communities.
“We are also trusting that we can do this and do a very high quality road that will last so that when we find more money, we can extend the road to other people,” he said.
Contractors Urged to Deliver Value for Money
Mr Agbodza urged road contractors to regard the delivery of durable and high-quality infrastructure as a professional responsibility.
He said contractors must strictly adhere to the technical specifications and quality requirements contained in their contracts.
The Minister further assured that the Ministry of Roads and Highways would continue to intensify supervision of road construction projects across the country.
He said closer monitoring would help ensure that contractors deliver value for money and that public funds invested in Ghana’s road infrastructure generate long-term benefits.
The government, he added, remains committed to improving road quality through stronger supervision, enforcement of construction specifications and increased accountability among contractors.
The proposed review of the defect liability period is therefore expected to form part of broader efforts to improve road construction in Ghana, protect public investments and ensure that major infrastructure projects deliver lasting benefits to motorists and local communities.
Source: newsthemegh.com