Roads and Highways Minister, Kwame Agbodza, has issued a stern warning to contractors under the government’s flagship “Big Push” infrastructure programme, cautioning that underperformance will no longer be tolerated.
Following a working tour across the Bono, Savannah, and Upper West regions, the Minister expressed deep concern over the slow pace of work on several road projects. He pointed to a pattern of delayed mobilisation, unmet promises, and what he described as a lack of seriousness among some contractors.
His strongest criticism was directed at Maripoma Construction, which he accused of only mobilising to site upon hearing of his visit. Addressing the company, the Minister warned that failure to achieve at least 20 percent progress within two months would result in decisive action.
“You packed and came to site just yesterday because you heard we were coming. The youth are angry, and we will act accordingly if you fail to deliver,” he said.
Hon. Agbodza stressed that contractors who fail to meet expectations risk not only losing their contracts but also facing legal consequences. “No contractor is bigger than government. I will terminate you and we meet in court,” he added.
The Minister also raised concerns about the slow progress on the Wenchi-Bole-Wa Highway, a major road project intended to improve connectivity between the Bono and Savannah regions. He indicated that the contract could be revoked if performance does not improve.
“I am not impressed with the speed of work on the Wenchi-Bole-Wa Highway, and we will abrogate if necessary to reward serious contractors,” he stated.
He further criticised what he described as a long-standing culture of impunity within the construction sector, where contractors face little consequence for delays.
“When Ghanaian contractors take a job, they know that there is no penalty for not completing on time. But on this Big Push, it is not like that. You have to complete on time, or we will take the job from you,” he warned.
In a surprising observation, the Minister noted that smaller contractors under the programme were, in many cases, outperforming larger firms, challenging assumptions about capacity and efficiency.
“The small contractors under Big Push are doing better than the big ones. Regardless of who you are, we will abrogate your contract if you fail to deliver,” he said.
The Savannah Regional Minister also backed the call for stricter enforcement, revealing that authorities had intervened to prevent potential protests by frustrated youth over stalled projects.
“We have been able to calm tensions and stop planned demonstrations, but we will now crack the whip on any contractor who fails to deliver,” he said.
The government’s renewed stance signals a tougher approach to infrastructure delivery, as officials seek to ensure that the Big Push programme meets its targets and responds to growing public expectations.
