The Minister of Roads and Highways, Kwame Governs Agbodza, has directed the Ghana Highway Authority (GHA) to establish bitumen testing facilities in three regions to improve quality control and strengthen Ghana’s road construction industry.
The proposed testing centres will be established in the Greater Accra, Ashanti and Northern Regions to make bitumen testing services more accessible and enhance quality assurance for road infrastructure projects across the country.
The directive follows concerns raised by road contractors over inadequate bitumen supplies, which have reportedly affected the progress of several ongoing construction projects under the government’s Big Push infrastructure programme.
The Minister issued the instruction during a meeting with bitumen suppliers operating in Ghana, where discussions focused on addressing supply challenges and ensuring the availability of essential road construction materials.
During recent inspections of ongoing Big Push road projects, contractors identified shortages of bitumen as one of the major obstacles slowing down construction activities.
Addressing the suppliers, Agbodza called for stronger cooperation among industry players to ensure that the increasing demand for bitumen is adequately addressed.
He further emphasised the importance of improving efficiency throughout the bitumen supply and distribution chain to prevent shortages and minimise delays in road construction projects.
The Roads and Highways Minister also encouraged suppliers to explore opportunities within Ghana’s local bitumen production capacity as part of efforts to strengthen domestic supply, reduce dependence on external sources and support the country’s infrastructure development agenda.
The establishment of regional bitumen testing facilities is expected to improve material quality assessment, promote compliance with road construction standards and enhance the durability of roads being constructed across Ghana.
Meanwhile, the bitumen suppliers assured the Minister that requests from road contractors would be met. They also pledged their commitment to providing adequate supplies to support the timely completion of ongoing road projects nationwide.
The government’s latest intervention forms part of broader efforts to address infrastructure development challenges, improve road construction quality and accelerate the implementation of the Big Push road programme.
Source: newsthemegh.com