Kwame Governs Agbodza has defended the inclusion of general items in road contracts, insisting that such provisions are essential for improving operations and working conditions within agencies under the Roads Ministry.
Speaking during an inspection of the Ghana Highways Authority North East Regional Office on Sunday, the Roads and Highways Minister rejected claims that spending on office facilities and operational logistics amounted to wasteful expenditure.
According to him, the regional office itself was constructed through resources generated from general items captured in road contracts.
“I work with people, and I am sure that between 2022 and 2024 could account for one of the worst economic periods in our country’s history, yet it was within that same period that we built this office,” he stated.
“So how can somebody say it was wasteful then and will still be wasteful now?” he questioned.
Mr Agbodza argued that engineers and technical staff within the road sector deserve decent office accommodation and logistical support similar to workers in other key public institutions.
“The staff of Highways deserve better. Engineers at the agency do critical work just like doctors, nurses, the police, and Bank of Ghana staff,” he said.
The minister also defended the procurement of official vehicles for field operations, explaining that officials frequently travel long distances across the country to inspect projects and supervise contractors.
“These vehicles are not luxury items,” he stressed, revealing that some ministry teams travel between 1,500 and 2,000 kilometres within short periods during inspections.
He added that one ministry vehicle was recently involved in an accident while returning from field duties, highlighting the demanding nature of road sector operations.
Mr Agbodza maintained that the ministry remains committed to prudent financial management and insisted public funds allocated to the sector are being properly utilised to improve infrastructure and service delivery nationwide.
