Francis Asenso-Boakye, the former Minister of Roads and Highways, has vehemently denied assertions made by Kwame Governs Agbodza, the minister-designate for roads and highways, claiming the Akufo-Addo administration built only 673 kilometers of new roads in its eight years in office.
Speaking on the floor of Parliament on Tuesday, January 21, 2025, Asenso-Boakye stressed that the Akufo-Addo administration built 13,624 kilometers of roads between 2017 and 2025 and accused Agbodza of distorting the facts.
“Honorable Speaker, let me put on record that as of December 2024, per the transition report, the Akufo-Addo government had constructed 13,624 kilometres of road. This figure is against the 4,630 kilometres of road constructed by the previous government in eight years,” Asenso-Boakye said.
He maintained that the entire road network built under the Akufo-Addo administration was a record-breaking accomplishment that featured important elements including bridges, repair, gravelling, and asphalt overlays.
The Bantama MP contended that Agbodza purposefully limited his attention to the 673 kilometers of recently built roads in order to present an inaccurate assessment of the government’s achievements. He clarified that although the administration’s efforts included a lot of new road building, other important elements like re-graveling and asphalt overlays were just as important.
He gave instances of asphalt overlay projects that enhanced road quality and made commuting easier in Accra, Kumasi, Sunyani, and Takoradi.
Asenso-Boakye also emphasized the significance of gravelling, pointing out that under Akufo-Addo’s direction, about 6,000 kilometers of gravel roads were finished. She emphasized the importance of these projects, especially in rural areas where better road networks are crucial for fostering community connections and improving accessibility.
He added that during the NPP government’s mandate, 35 bridges were built nationwide and 1,665 kilometers of roads were renovated and repaired. He said that all of these were included in the administration’s strategy for transformative infrastructure.
“Many of us represent rural communities and understand the importance of gravelling in linking people and improving accessibility in these areas. These projects are crucial and cannot be dismissed simply because they are not new road constructions,” he remarked.
This, he called on Parliament and the public to recognize the comprehensive nature of road infrastructure development undertaken during the NPP government’s tenure, noting that maintenance and upgrades are integral to a robust national road network.
