Agbodza Disputes Akufo-Addo’s 11,000km Road Construction Claim
The Roads and Highways Minister-designate, Kwame Governs Agbodza, has cast doubt on a claim by former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo that his administration constructed over 11,000 kilometres of roads during its tenure.
He described the figure as misleading, citing official records that indicate the actual number of newly constructed roads is lower.
During his vetting before Parliament’s Appointments Committee on Monday, 20 January 2025, Mr Agbodza referred to the former president’s 2023 State of the Nation Address.
In that address, Mr Akufo-Addo claimed his government had constructed 11,974 kilometres of roads, which he touted as a record-breaking achievement in Ghana’s infrastructure history.
Mr Agbodza, however, challenged the accuracy of this assertion, citing data from agencies under the Ministry of Roads and Highways that place the number of newly constructed roads at just 673 kilometres since 2017.
Discrepancy in Figures
He recalled Akufo-Addo’s address to the 8th Parliament, where the former president stated that his government had achieved an unprecedented milestone in road construction.
At the time, Mr Agbodza chose not to publicly challenge the claim, as he believed the president’s figures were derived from a presumably reliable source. However, subsequent scrutiny of official records painted a different picture.
“The claim of 11,000 kilometres of new roads was simply untrue,” Mr Agbodza asserted.
“The data shows that only 673 kilometres of roads were actually constructed as new roads.”
The bulk of the 13,624 kilometres referenced by the former president includes rehabilitations, upgrades, and routine maintenance rather than completely new roads.”
Clarifications and Records
According to Mr Agbodza, agencies within the Ministry of Roads and Highways have since sought to reconcile the figures, confirming that the number of newly constructed roads under Akufo-Addo’s administration falls far short of the proclaimed 11,000 kilometres.
“The exaggeration of achievements in road construction does not serve the purpose of transparency or accountability,” he said.
“It is critical to differentiate between new constructions and ongoing improvements to existing infrastructure when assessing the performance of any government,” he emphasised.
Source: Graphic
