Minority Chief Whip Kwame Governs Agbodza has criticized Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia for failing to provide evidence of the 10,800 kilometres of new roads announced in the 2022 State of the Nation Address.
Kwame Agbodza argues that the current administration’s focus on routine maintenance, rehabilitation, and upkeep of existing roads is misleading and represents a significant drop in infrastructural progress compared to the previous administration.
In a statement, Agbodza asserted, “The claims of constructing 10,800 kilometres of new roads have proven to be unfounded. The government’s recent emphasis on routine maintenance and rehabilitation work over new road construction is a clear attempt to mask their failure to deliver on their promises.”
He further pointed out that President John Mahama’s administration achieved substantial road development with fewer resources. “Under President Mahama, despite the limited budget of approximately GHS 50 billion for the 2016 fiscal year, the road infrastructure delivered was far superior.
For comparison, the 2017 budget detailed 10,723.49 kilometres of trunk roads, 16,183 kilometres of feeder roads, and 9,384 kilometres of urban roads,” Agbodza highlighted.
In contrast, the 2024 budget report reveals a stark decrease in road infrastructure: 4,809 kilometres of trunk roads, 8,984 kilometres of feeder roads, and 2,318 kilometres of urban roads.
“This is a dramatic reduction in road infrastructure, and it shows that the current administration is delivering less value to Ghanaians despite claiming otherwise,” Agbodza stated.
The Minority Chief Whip emphasized that there is a discrepancy in the Akufo-Addo government’s claims on roads constructed versus the actual progress made. “The comparison clearly shows that with less financial resources, President Mahama was able to deliver more robust road infrastructure than the current government.”
The Minority Chief Whip’s comments come on the back of the launch of the NPP’s election 2024 Manifesto on Sunday, August 18, where government officials including the Vice President claimed the current government has constructed unprecedented roads.
Source: myjoyonline.com
