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The Minister for Roads and Highways, Hon. Kwame Governs Agbodza, together with his technical team, embarked on a three-day road inspection tour from 2nd to 4th April 2025, covering the Bono East, Ahafo, Western, and Western North Regions. The purpose of the tour was to assess the progress of various ongoing road projects.

Among the roads he inspected were the reconstruction of Jinijini – Sampa Road network, the rehabilitation of Benchema Barrier – Juaboso Road, Sefwi Wiawso town Roads, dualization of Takoradi–Agona junction, the construction of selected roads and interchanges in Ghana – Phase 1, Lot 4 (PTC Interchange).

During a media briefing, the Hon. Minister reaffirmed the government's commitment to the 'Big Push' agenda. He added that contracts under the initiative would be awarded by June 2025, with work expected to commence thereafter.

Background

The “Big Push” initiative is a development strategy proposed by H.E the president, John Dramani Mahama to stimulate economic growth, create jobs, and modernize Ghana’s infrastructure base.The initiative is aimed at generating thousands of direct and indirect job, especially for the youth of Ghana.The targeted sectors are

• Roads and transport
• Health and hospitals
• Water and sanitation
• Education infrastructure (e.g., schools, libraries)
• Energy and digital infrastructure

Additionally,he indicated that  the initiative seeks to prioritize the use of local contractors, engineers, and materials to maximize local content and promote capacity building.

Hon. Minister and team engaging the media

The Hon. Minister highlighted several other projects included in the 'Big Push' Agenda, such as outer Ring Road in Sunyani, the Ring Road or loop around Kumasi, the reconstruction of the Dambai bridge, the Ekyi Amanfom bridge in Afram plains area and the loop around Accra. “In Sunyani you noticed that the outer Ring Road is now part of the ‘Big Push’ which we are going to restart the Dambai bridge, the Ekyi Amanfom bridge in the Afram plains area, the Ring Road or the loop around Kumasi, the loop around Accra and several of them would be undertaken”, he added.

He also mentioned the Eastern corridor and Western corridor networks as part of the projects under the initiative.

On his arrival in the Bono Region, the Minister inspected the construction of the Ahafo- North Mines bypass (Terchire- Afrisipa bypass) by Newmont Gold Ghana ltd, the Sunyani – Techiman Road, Techiman – Wenchi Road and the reconstruction of Jinijini – Sampa Road network.

Hon.Minister, Governs Agbodza (MP), in an engagement with officials of Newmont Gold Limited

The Hon Minister and his team of technical men and women on the second day (Thursday, April 3, 2025) of his visit inspected the rehabilitation of Tepa (Mabang) – Goaso Road, the rehabilitation of Benchema Barrier – Juaboso Road, Sefwi Wiawso town Roads and the construction of Bridge Over Tano river on the Nsawora – Sefwi Wiawso Road.

On Friday, April 4, the Minister inspected the reconstruction of Tarkwa-Agona Nkwanta Road, dualization of Takoradi–Agona junction, the construction of selected roads and interchanges in Ghana – Phase 1, Lot 4 (PTC Interchange).

On the N10, the Hon Minister expressed his disappointment in the alarming deterioration of some sections of the newly reconstructed Tarkwa- Agona Nkwanta stretch. The 66-kilometer stretch constructed at a cost of 95 million Euros, has shown signs of damage in less than 2years. According to the contractors, the early destruction is due to excessive overloading by heavy- duty vehicles, transporting bauxite, manganese and other mining related products and materials.

The Hon Minister and his team conducted some unannounced checks at the Apimanim axle load station, where several trucks were apprehended for carrying excess loads beyond the permissible limits, some in excess of 19 tons.

Prior to this inspection tour in the Region, the Hon Minister had established a 5- member committee to undertake investigations into the operations and management of the axle load stations across the country. The Hon Minister is of the hope that, the findings will inform the needed steps to reform the axle load operations in the country.