Roads and Highways Minister, Governs Kwame Agbodza, has expressed outrage over the stalled 71.25-kilometre Enchi–Elubo road project in the Western North Region, warning the Contractor to either immediately begin work or relinquish the contract.
During an inspection tour of the project on Tuesday, May 12, 2026 the minister criticised the Contractor, Top Engineering International Ltd., for failing to mobilise to site, months after receiving GH80.2 million mobilisation payment from government, in December 2025.
The Enchi–Elubo road remains one of the most deteriorated road corridors in the country, despite its strategic importance to cocoa production and cross-border trade.
Residents and transport operators have for years complained about deep potholes, severe erosion and dangerous driving conditions that continue to affect movement and economic activity in the area.
Addressing officials and journalists during the inspection, Mr Agbodza described the situation as unacceptable and one of the worst cases he had encountered since government began monitoring projects under its “Big Push” infrastructure agenda.
“This project, Enchi–Elubo road junction project, as said, is 71.25 kilometres. Those of you following us have seen the condition of that road and the conditions under which our compatriots who live on this road live,” he said.
“You saw them drying cocoa by the roadside because of the state of the road and the economic conditions of our country. You drove on those roads and nobody was even patching potholes, which was supposed to be the responsibility of the contractor.”
The minister recounted emotional encounters with residents, particularly women, who narrated the hardship they endure travelling on the road.
“You stopped and spoke to women who told you the ordeal they go through. Some, I cannot repeat here some actually leading to death,” he stated.
According to him, the poor condition of the road was the reason President John Dramani Mahama prioritised the project under the government’s infrastructure programme.
“That is the reason the president prioritised this road as part of the Big Push. This Contractor has been on this road for ages. It is not new. It doesn’t need mobilisation,” he said.
Mr Agbodza revealed that government had considered terminating the contract, but was constrained by the large mobilisation payment already made to the contractor.
“Frankly speaking, if not that I’ve been advised by the Chief Executive of Highways that we need to give him a little more time and also because we paid this contractor 80.2 million Ghana cedis mobilisation, I would have terminated this contract right now,” he declared.
“But if I terminate, the process of recovering this money becomes another matter. The only reason I’m not terminating right now is because they have 80.2 million of our money in their pocket.”
The minister further criticised the beneficial owner of the company for allegedly being unavailable and failing to respond to calls from government officials.
“The worst is that the beneficial owner of this company doesn’t stay in the country. Anytime you call him, he’s outside the country. If you want to work here, you must stay and account for these things,” he stressed.
He directed representatives of the company to appear before the Ghana Highway Authority within the week and issued a stern warning.
“We don’t owe you anything. Over 5,000 people want this job. If you cannot do it, step aside,” he said.
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