The Minister for Roads and Highways, Governs Kwame Agbodza, has called for a stronger integration of scientific research into road construction and maintenance, warning that Ghana can no longer afford to see newly built roads deteriorate prematurely.
Speaking during a courtesy call by a delegation from the Building and Road Research Institute (BRRI) of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), the Minister stressed that research findings must move beyond academic shelves and directly inform road sector policy and implementation.
“We cannot continue to invest heavily in road construction only to see our roads deteriorate prematurely, while research by our institutions gathers dust,” he stated, adding that strict quality control and science-based solutions must guide every stage of project delivery.
The BRRI delegation, led by Board Chair Professor Michael Affam, met with the Ministry to explore renewed areas of collaboration aimed at improving durability, safety and overall quality of road infrastructure nationwide.
Key issues discussed included asphalt certification, road audits, axle load enforcement, and the design and supervision of road construction projects. Both sides acknowledged that bridging the gap between research institutions and policy execution would be critical to achieving sustainable results.
Mr. Agbodza reaffirmed the Ministry’s readiness to deepen its partnership with BRRI to ensure that road designs, materials and supervision processes meet high technical standards.
Professor Affam, in response, pledged BRRI’s continued support, highlighting the institute’s commitment to providing research-backed expertise and technical guidance to strengthen Ghana’s road network.
