Minister for Roads, Kwame Governs Agbodza, has announced that contractors working under the government’s flagship Big Push Initiative will operate around the clock to accelerate delivery of critical road infrastructure.
Speaking at the sod-cutting ceremony for the Volta Region component of the programme in Ho, Mr. Agbodza said the directive aligns with government’s 24-hour economy policy, which has been touted as a game changer for Ghana’s physical and economic development.
“Under the Big Push, all the projects are going to be executed within a 24-hour economy framework. Day and night, contractors will be on site,” he stated.
The Minister expressed confidence that with the calibre of contractors engaged, the targeted road networks would be completed on schedule. “Mr. President, we are very convinced that the selection of contractors working on this road, from Atimpoku to Aflao, can deliver within 24 months. In fact, First Sky Limited, which is handling the section where today’s sod-cutting is taking place, has the capacity to complete it in less than 24 months,” he assured.
Mr. Agbodza urged contractors to prove the capability of Ghanaian firms by ensuring high-quality work. He also advised them to secure comprehensive insurance cover for the projects, cautioning that shoddy work would not be tolerated. “If you do a bad job, we will call on the insurer to fix the road,” he warned.
He further called on contractors to employ additional staff to speed up the works while creating jobs for young graduates in the construction sector. “There are many young people with degrees in Quantity Surveying, Civil Engineering, and Project Management. I encourage you to take them on and mentor them to become the next generation of contractors and engineers,” he said.
The Big Push in the Volta Region
The Volta Region project covers 177 kilometres of road, divided into nine lots, stretching from Atimpoku through Asikuma, Ho, Kpetoe, Ave Afiadenyigba, and Penyi to Aflao. The original design also proposes a bypass at Aflao, running along the beach to the border.
The works, being executed by First Sky Limited and eight other contractors, will include:
• Widening of existing road carriageways and shoulders
• Strengthening of pavements
• Upgrading of surfaces to asphaltic concrete
• Replacement of weak and undersized culverts
• Provision of road safety measures
Funding and Scope
The Big Push Programme, launched by President John Mahama at Afienya in the Greater Accra Region on September 16, has been allocated GH¢13.85 billion (US$892.9 million). In total, 42 major road projects are being undertaken nationwide under the initiative.
