Gov’t pledges longer-lasting roads, cracks down on overloaded vehicles

The government has assured the public that road projects, both ongoing and planned, will focus on durability and stricter measures against overloaded vehicles following growing concerns over the rapid deterioration of roads.
Minister of Roads and Highways Kwame Agbodza, speaking in an interview on GTV on Monday, 26 January 2026, said road infrastructure investments are aimed at safety, longevity, and productivity.
“Some roads in Ghana fail within a year, not because contractors did poor work, but because vehicles are overloaded,” he explained, adding that overloading is a major factor reducing road lifespan.
Agbodza highlighted that technology will be central to monitoring axle loads and preventing overloaded vehicles from using the roads. “The polling policy will come with technology to ensure that vehicles exceeding axle load limits are prevented from using roads,” he said, emphasising that political will and legislative backing will strengthen enforcement.
On new expressway projects, the minister said greenfield roads are currently in the design and feasibility stage, with construction expected to start later this year. “By mid-year, we expect to cut the first sod for these expressways. These roads will offer motorists a choice: pay a higher toll for faster travel or use existing roads,” he stated.
Agbodza assured Ghanaians that the selection of road materials will prioritise long-term durability. “Concrete or asphalt will be chosen based on cost-effectiveness over 50 years. Durability is key,” he said, adding that Ghana spends more on roads than neighbouring countries, but poor compliance with axle limits has undermined previous investments.
He also confirmed that payments to contractors have resumed, with GHC10 billion cleared as arrears as of December 2025, enabling stalled projects to continue. “No road project initiated under the previous administration has been abandoned,” Agbodza said, noting that contractors are now remobilising to sites.
The minister added that combining durable construction, technology-driven enforcement, and stricter adherence to road laws will significantly improve road quality, benefiting commerce and the public.