Deputy Minister for Roads and Highways, Alhassan Suhuyini, has reaffirmed the government's commitment to prioritizing road maintenance amid significant financial constraints in the sector.

His comments come in response to the 2025 budget statement presented by Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, which revealed that the government owes contractors a total of GH¢67.5 billion. This figure includes GH¢49.2 billion in unpaid Interim Payment Certificates and invoices from Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), as well as GH¢18.3 billion in outstanding Bank Transfer Advice at the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department.

Speaking to The Independent Ghana on Tuesday, Suhuyini acknowledged the challenge of settling these debts but assured contractors that some payments would be made.

"They should have absolute confidence that we will settle some of the debts," he assured. "However, we obviously cannot clear everything at once. The total financial commitment stands at about GH¢100 billion, with unpaid certificates alone amounting to GH¢21 billion. The decision to uncap the Road Fund is a step in the right direction, but it will only make GH¢2 billion available—far from enough to cover even the unpaid certificates."

He stressed that the government’s focus on road maintenance is essential to preserving existing infrastructure, which has suffered due to neglect.

"The minister has stressed that a significant portion of these funds will be directed toward road maintenance. This is a smart move because our poor maintenance culture has resulted in roads deteriorating within 8 to 10 years instead of lasting longer," he explained.

Suhuyini also pointed to the broader infrastructure agenda under the ‘Big Push’ initiative, which has been allocated between GH¢10 billion and GH¢13 billion, with many of the projects focusing on roads.

"If you look at the Big Push and the amount that is allocated, about GH¢10 to GH¢13 billion, many of the projects under the Big Push are road projects, so that will enable us, you know, start new projects and also retire some of the old debts," he stated.

According to the 2025 budget, GH¢5.75 billion is owed by the Road Fund, with an allocation of GH¢2.81 billion programmed for road maintenance. This represents a 155.5% increase from the 2024 allocation of GH¢1.1 billion, underscoring the government’s emphasis on sustaining Ghana’s road network.

With Ghana’s economy valued at GH¢1.2 trillion, stakeholders are closely monitoring how the government will balance infrastructure expansion with financial obligations.