Government Faces Parliamentary Scrutiny Over Stalled Infrastructure Projects and Afari Military Hospital Delays

The Minister for Roads and Highways, Kwame Governs Agbodza, has provided a series of critical updates to Parliament regarding the state of Ghana’s transport infrastructure, revealing a sector grappling with vandalism, staffing shortages, and contractor underperformance. In a notable disclosure, the Minister revealed that approximately 65% of the 415 traffic signals across the country are currently non-functional, primarily due to the theft of cables and batteries by scrap dealers and motorists. This vandalism has even affected high-security areas, such as the traffic lights in front of the Police Headquarters in Accra. To address systemic oversight issues, the Ministry plans to recruit approximately 1,000 additional personnel to fill gaps in engineering and quality assurance, particularly in the six newly created administrative regions where technical departments are currently overstretched.

Simultaneously, the government is moving to revive stalled road projects that have caused significant public outcry. Minister Agbodza assured Parliament that construction on the La–Teshie–Nungua road project, which has faced delays since 2020, will resume before the end of the year. Furthermore, the 23-kilometer Bogoso–Prestea road project has been reassigned to a new contractor following the termination of the previous firm, Black Oak, for poor performance. These infrastructure updates come as local leaders, including Togbui Adzonugaga Amenya Fiti V of Aflao, urge the government to prioritize the "Big Push" road project to serve as a critical barrier against coastal erosion and improve regional connectivity.

In the health sector, the $180 million Afari Military Hospital project in the Ashanti Region has become a flashpoint for political tension. Deputy Defence Minister Ernest Brogya Genfi reported that while civil and architectural works are 97% complete, the overall project stands at 60% due to biomedical installations lagging at just 5%. The facility, originally slated for completion in 2018, remains unfinished amidst claims of stolen equipment and expired warranties. This technical delay recently escalated into a political standoff when Minority MPs alleged they were blocked from inspecting the site. Wisdom Osei Boamah, the Municipal Chief Executive for Atwima Nwabiagya, has since refuted these claims, asserting that access to the facility is governed strictly by military protocol rather than local political interference.

To ensure broader accountability across state utilities, the government has also addressed recent failures in the energy sector. Dr. John Abdulai Jinapor, Minister for Energy and Green Transition, recently received a comprehensive investigative report regarding the fire at the Akosombo Substation. He has mandated that critical power installations undergo an immediate safety and risk management review to prevent future disruptions to the national grid. As the government attempts to manage economic recovery without heavy external borrowing, these combined efforts in roads, health, and energy represent a strategic push to complete inherited projects while tightening security and oversight on national assets.