Akufo-Addo constructed 13,624km of roads – Former Highways Minister clarifies

The immediate past Roads and Highways Minister under the erstwhile Akufo-Addo administration, Francis Asenso Boakye, has rejected claims by Roads and Highways Minister-designate, Kwame Agbodza that the previous government constructed 673 kilometres of new roads during its 8-year tenure.

Speaking in Parliament on Tuesday, January 21,2025, Asenso-Boakye clarified that the NPP Government constructed 13,624 kilometres of roads between 2017 and 2025, as documented in the transition report.

He criticised Mr Agbodza for focusing solely on the 673 kilometres of newly constructed roads, arguing that it presented a wrong picture of the NPP government’s achievements.

Mr Asenso-Boakye emphasised that the administration’s efforts included asphalt overlays, re-graveling, reconstruction, all of which contributed significantly to improving the national road network.

“Mr. Speaker, the total road network developed by the Akufo-Addo administration from 2017 to June 2024 stands at 13,624 kilometers. This figure far surpasses the 4,630 kilometres constructed by the previous Government,” 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.

“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.

The Bantama Lawmaker, appealed to Parliament and the public to acknowledge the broader scope of road infrastructure development under the NPP administration, ” highlighting that maintenance and upgrade and robust road network.

By Benjamin Aidoo

The post Akufo-Addo constructed 13,624km of roads – Former Highways Minister clarifies first appeared on 3News.

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