Finance Minister Settles GH₵10 Billion Contractor Arrears As Of Dec. 2025 – Roads Minister Discloses

The Minister for Roads and Highways, Kwame Governs Agbodza, has disclosed that as of December 31, 2025, the Finance Minister, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson had paid close to GH₵10 billion in arrears owed to contractors who executed various projects under the erstwhile Akufo-Addo administration.

According to him, no road project initiated under the previous government has been abandoned under the leadership of President John Dramani Mahama.

Mr. Agbodza revealed that about 98 per cent of road contractors had left their respective sites even before the 2024 general election due to non-payment.

However, he said many of those contractors are now remobilising to site following assurances by the current government that outstanding payments would be honoured.

Speaking on GTV Breakfast on January 26, Mr. Agbodza said, “As of 31st December 2025, the finance minister had paid close to GH₵10 billion as arrears. No government has paid contractors, more than President Mahama within a year – and the records are there and Finance Minister will present it to parliament.”

He added that, “Almost all these projects were projects awarded by the New Patriotic Party (NPP). That is the different between President Mahama and the government he took over from.”

Reiterating the government’s commitment to ongoing projects, the Roads Minister stated, “No road project under President Mahama has been abandoned. Indeed, 98 per cent of road contractors were off site, before 2024 election. Indeed today, many of those contractors are remobilizing to site because of the hope that we would pay them.”

He further explained the scale of the outstanding debt, saying, “So, contractors are being paid. Indeed, when you owe contractors on GoG close to GH₵40 billion, Road Fund about GH₵10 billion, cocoa roads about 6billion and you paid GH₵10 billion, there is still a lot of work for you to do for you to be able to raise that revenue. But that was not even happening in 2024 – that is the difference, so we are paying,” he clarified.

Meanwhile, addressing the state of Ghana’s roads, Mr. Agbodza announced plans for the government to collaborate with the Ministry of Transport to amend Legislative Instrument 2180 to allow for the auctioning of excess goods from overloaded trucks.

Proceeds from such auctions, he said, would be paid into the Road Maintenance Trust Fund.

He also disclosed plans to increase penalties for overloading from GH₵5,000 to GH₵50,000 as part of measures to deter truck owners and drivers from the practice, which he described as a major contributor to road deterioration.

According to the Minister, “this approach will serve as a deterrent and help preserve Ghana’s roads.”

Mr. Agbodza noted that although Ghana invests more in road infrastructure than its neighbouring countries, the country’s roads do not last as long. He attributed this to persistent overloading and abuse of road infrastructure.

He further cited instances where drivers bribe officials at axle load stations to carry more tonnes than permitted, thereby accelerating road damage.

The Minister stressed that in many cases, “it is not that, road constructors did shoddy work but that, the roads are being abused daily leading to their short lifespan.”