By Adnan Adams Mohammed
In an aggressive move to restore sanity to public procurement, the Ministry of Roads and Highways has introduced a radical policy banning the initiation of any new road projects nationwide.
Adopting an uncompromising, delivery-first directive, the sector Minister announced an absolute freeze on fresh contract awards, declaring that the state’s full fiscal weight will be redirected solely to completing the immense backlog of active, ongoing infrastructure works before another single inch of ground is broken.
Rationalizing Expenditure and Clearing Outstanding Backlogs
According to ministry sources, the decision is a strategic move designed to ensure strict fiscal discipline and build confidence in public procurement. By concentrating state revenue on active construction sites, the ministry aims to rapidly clear its financial obligations to contractors and prevent uncompleted works from deteriorating under weather elements, which often leads to costly contract variations later on.
The directive is expected to immediately impact the operational planning of the ministry’s key implementing departments, including the Ghana Highway Authority, the Department of Urban Roads, and the Department of Feeder Roads. Project managers have been directed to strictly audit active sites and enforce rigid timelines against defaulting contractors.
Key Directives Under the New Roads Ministry Policy
Absolute Freeze: A comprehensive suspension on advertising or awarding new periodic maintenance, upgrading, or resurfacing contracts.
Delivery-First Approach: Strategic redirection of budgetary allocations to clear certificates of completed phases on active sites.
Rigid Auditing: Immediate performance evaluation of all existing contractors to identify and rectify bottlenecks causing delays.
Accountability and Technical Oversight
The Minister also tasked technical directors and regional engineers to step up field supervision, stressing that the execution-first directive requires zero tolerance for substandard work or artificial delays. While the temporary ban remains absolute for routine structural undertakings, exceptions will be carved out strictly for emergencies, such as sudden bridge collapses or severe washouts that threaten human lives and isolate communities.
“We owe it to the taxpayer to finish what we started,” the Minister stated, reaffirming that the measure will ultimately protect national resources and guarantee long-term value for money. “Contractors on site must step up their pace. If you are executing a contract for this ministry, your focus must be to complete it, hand it over, and clear the way for others.”
