The Minister for Roads and Highways, Governs Kwame Agbodza, has urged contractors working on government road projects to prioritise quality as much as speed of delivery.

He made the call during an inspection of the 37-kilometre Wa-Bulenga-Yaala road in the Upper West Region on Thursday, September 3, 2026

The Minister commended Astee Construction Limited for the progress made on the project, which is currently ahead of its scheduled timeline. He, however, challenged the contractor to sustain the pace without compromising construction standards.

Agbodza stressed that government would insist on the specifications contained in contracts and would not accept work that falls below the required standard.

“We are happy that you are ahead of schedule. We think that you can work a bit faster and quality work. We will not accept any substandard work. We don’t pay you to do shoddy work,” he stated

The Minister added that improvements beyond the specifications would be welcomed, provided the quality of the work remains satisfactory.

The project has also taken on added importance following the destruction of the Yaala Bridge by heavy rains about five months ago, which disrupted access between several communities and Wa, the Upper West Regional capital.

As part of the response, a 4-by-4 metre culvert has been constructed along the Wa-Bulenga-Yaala stretch to accommodate flash floods and provide protection for the road infrastructure.

Astee Construction Limited has assured the Ministry that it will complete the project within the agreed timeframe.

The inspection showed that approximately 65 percent of the project has been completed, despite the contract being awarded in January 2026 and having a scheduled completion date in 2028.

The Minister’s inspection forms part of a wider assessment of road projects across northern Ghana to monitor progress, address challenges and ensure value for money in government infrastructure investments.

Source: By Belinda Annan Quansah