The Minister of Roads and Highways, Hon. Francis Asenso-Boakye, has defended the Akufo-Addo and Bawumia administration’s record in the road sector, describing their achievements as unmatched.
His comments were in response to former President John Dramani Mahama’s scepticism about the government’s claim of constructing 12,830 kilometres of roads.
Speaking at a media briefing at Tafo Station in Kumasi, Ashanti Region, Asenso-Boakye emphasized the significant strides made under the current administration.
He stated, “Between 2017 and the end of 2023, the Akufo-Addo and Bawumia administration has constructed an impressive 12,830 kilometres of roads, compared to the 4,636 kilometres achieved by the previous administration.”
The minister stressed Ghana’s strong position in Africa’s road network, citing data from the World Bank.
According to him, Ghana’s road density—measured in kilometres of road per 100 square kilometres of land—exceeds the African regional average.
He noted, “Ghana boasts 32.8 kilometres of road per 100 square kilometres, nearly double the regional average of 17 kilometres.”
Asenso-Boakye also underscored the country’s rural accessibility as another critical achievement. He stated that 63 per cent of Ghana’s population lives within two kilometres of all-weather roads, compared to 47 per cent for the rest of Africa. This, he argued, is a testament to the government’s significant investments in road infrastructure, especially in rural areas.
“A lot of investment has gone into road infrastructure, both paved and unpaved, to improve the quality of our roads,” he said.
He noted that these efforts are in addition to major ongoing road projects across the country, listing key projects such as the School Junction-Motorway Road, Ofankor-Nsawam Road, Tamale-Yendi-Tatale Road, Agonankwanta-Tarkwa Road, Kasoa-Winneba Road, and the Adenta-Dodowa Road.
In terms of bridge and interchange development, the minister underscored the completion of six interchanges and 35 bridges nationwide. He added that more than 10 interchanges and 50 bridges are currently under construction.
“Indeed, during the president’s 2023 State of the Nation Address, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo provided details of the administration’s achievements in the road sector,” Asenso-Boakye said.
Asenso-Boakye revealed that a national road network inventory is currently underway, with preliminary figures indicating that the country’s total road network will reach 100,000 kilometres by the end of the exercise.
He contrasted this with the state of the road network at the end of 2016 when the Akufo-Addo administration assumed office. At that time, Ghana’s road network was 78,403 kilometres. By the end of 2023, this figure had increased by 20 per cent, reaching 94,203 kilometres.
According to the minister, the government’s interventions in the road sector have led to significant improvements in the condition of Ghana’s road network.
“By the end of 2023, 44 per cent of the network was in good condition, 34 per cent in fair condition, and 22 per cent in poor condition,” he noted.
This compares favourably to the state of the road network before the current administration, where 39 per cent was classified as good, 32 per cent as fair, and 29 per cent as poor.
Drawing a comparison between the achievements of the Akufo-Addo government and that of former President Mahama, Asenso-Boakye emphasized the superior progress made under the current administration.
He pointed out that the total road network size during Mahama’s tenure was 78,402 kilometres, with 39 per cent in good condition, 32 per cent in fair condition, and 29 per cent in poor condition.
While acknowledging the progress made under Mahama, Asenso-Boakye asserted that the Akufo-Addo government has achieved nearly three times the progress of the previous administration.
“Our government remains committed to providing more roads to further enhance our nation’s infrastructure to meet the needs of the people,” he added.
The minister acknowledged that the government’s work in the road sector is far from over and reiterated the administration’s commitment to continue expanding and improving the country’s road network.
As part of this commitment, Asenso-Boakye announced plans to dualize the Kumasi-Tafo-Mampong road, a critical project aimed at easing congestion and improving transportation efficiency in the region.
