Former Roads and Highways Minister Francis Asenso-Boakye has defended the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) achievements in road infrastructure.
The nominees under consideration included Hon. Governs Kwame Agbodza, designated as Minister for Roads and Highways; Hon. Haruna Iddrisu, nominated for Minister of Education; and Hon. Eric Opoku, nominated for Minister of Agriculture.
Asenso-Boakye, who served as the immediate past Roads and Highways Minister, directly addressed concerns raised by Hon. Agbodza during his vetting. Agbodza claimed that only 673 kilometers of new roads had been constructed since the NPP assumed office in 2017—a figure Asenso-Boakye dismissed as a partial and misleading representation of the administration’s accomplishments.
“Mr. Speaker, the total road network developed by the Akufo-Addo administration from 2017 to June 2024 stands at 13,624 kilometers,” Asenso-Boakye declared, providing a detailed breakdown to substantiate his claims:
– Asphalt Overlay: 1,955.25 km
– Bridges: 35
– New Construction: 673.27 km
– Gravelling/Regravelling: 6,185.90 km
– Rehabilitation: 1,665.07 km
– Upgrading/Surfacing: 2,538.40 km
– Resealing: 101.02 km
– Partial Reconstruction: 231.90 km
He clarified that the 673 km figure cited by Agbodza only accounted for roads constructed from scratch and ignored significant activities such as rehabilitation, regravelling, and upgrading. These efforts, he argued, have transformed previously unusable roads into functional assets for the nation.
To illustrate, Asenso-Boakye highlighted the ongoing rehabilitation and upgrading of the Ofankor-Nsawam road, which has significantly improved its usability. “Agbodza selectively emphasized one component to suit his narrative, but the facts speak otherwise,” he asserted.
Despite these disagreements, Asenso-Boakye commended aspects of Agbodza’s vision, such as prioritizing road maintenance, uncapping the Road Fund, and completing critical uncompleted projects—strategies that align with the NPP’s road sector policies.
Before addressing these technical matters, Asenso-Boakye took a moment to reflect on his personal relationship with Agbodza, recalling their days as student leaders at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).
“Kwame and I share a rich history as student leaders at KNUST. Over the years, I’ve admired his dedication and expertise in public service. I have no doubt he will do well if approved as the Roads and Highways Minister,” he remarked.
