The construction firm working on the Tema-Aflao Highway, BHM International Construction (UK) Ltd, has warned that work may stall again if the government does not immediately disburse  $105 million.

Construction work on the Tema-Aflao highway recommenced in April after the Ministry of Roads and Highways assured BHM Construction Company Limited that the necessary funding for the project would be restored.

However, the contractors say the funds are yet to be released. Speaking to the media on Thursday, September 11, one of the contractors, Wisdom Adonoo, revealed that, “We are still waiting for the funds…the loan to be reinstated. In the meantime, we are working in good faith based on the Minister’s assurance”.

The project had been put on hold since December 2022, when the debt restructuring initiative led to a freeze on several major infrastructure projects nationwide. BHM Construction responded promptly to the Minister's call and resumed work on the highway, although they have also requested the government to expedite outstanding payments to ensure the smooth continuation of the project.

The Country Managing Director for BHM Ghana, Adrian Wilson, shared his optimism during a press briefing on April 7.

"We are happy to resume work on the Tema-Aflao Interchange Programme project, especially after receiving the government’s continued assurance regarding funding. This reassurance has given us the confidence to restart the work," he said.

This highway is a key road that connects Ghana to Togo and other West African countries, so fixing it is important for both local travel and trade across the region. If completed, the project will alleviate the plight of motorists traversing the Tema-Aflao stretch, and tie into the Trans-African Highway Project, from Lagos to Abidjan, with the current two-lane dual carriageway being expanded into a three-lane carriageway in each direction, he said.

With commuters having to spend over four hours traversing the road along with the Dawhenya township, the President described the situation as unproductive, hence the move by the government to address the situation on that road and other areas along other national corridors.

The 17-kilometer road project begins one kilometer east of the Tema Expressway Roundabout, incorporating mixed-use towns such as Dawhenya, and ends approximately 3km east of the Central University intersection.

Meanwhile, Parliament on July 30 unanimously endorsed the government’s proposal to divert all royalties that will be received from oil revenues and mineral royalties to support the implementation of the Big Push Programme.

This comes after the government requested Parliament approve committing funds to assist in the construction of certain road projects. Mr Isaac Adongo, the Chairman of the Parliament's Finance Committee, while presenting the report by the Budget and Finance joint committee to the plenary, said, “The Committee has carefully considered the Referral, and it is of the opinion that the request is in the right direction.”

The Committee also noted that Parliament had already approved the policy and the allocation to the “Big Push” Programme in the 2025 Budget Statement. Granting the request would enable the Government to enter into multi-year contracts to execute the road infrastructure projects under the Programme.

“The Committee accordingly recommends to the House to approve the Request for the multi-year commitments for the selected road projects under the “Big Push” Programme contained in the Mid-Year Fiscal Policy Review of the 2025 Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government of Ghana, in accordance with Section 33 of the Public Financial Management Act, 2016, (Act 921),” Mr Adongo said.

The initiative aimed at improving road infrastructure across the country is estimated at GHC13.8 billion, and it is expected to be completed by 2028 with support from the country’s own financial resources. 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. The Minister for Roads and Highways, Kwame Governs Agbodza, on Wednesday, July 30, revealed that his ministry has undertaken studies and prepared comprehensive engineering interventions and cost estimates for road projects under the Big Push Programme.

However, the Minister for Roads and Highways, Governs Kwame Agbodza, has projected a two-year timeline for the completion of all current and upcoming road projects under the government’s “Big Push” initiative.

The Ministry of Finance has since issued commitment authorizations for some twenty-nine (29) road infrastructure projects under the Big Push Programme, which include: Upgrading of Akosombo-Gyakiti-Kudikope Road, Road Dualization of Winneba-Mankessim Road, Rehabilitation of Mankessim-Ajumako-Breman Asikuma-Agona Swedru, Construction of Nchi-Elubo Road, and Rehabilitation of Atimpoku-Asikuma Junction Road.

The government has also selected several abandoned road projects for which no dedicated funding was allocated by the previous administration. They include rehabilitation and upgrading of Kasoa-Winneba Road, construction of Suame Interchange and Local Roads, reconstruction of Navrongo-Chuchuliga-Sandema Road, and upgrading of Tumu-Chuchuliga-Navrongo, including construction of a 36m span reinforced concrete bridge over the Kanyibie River and a 24m span reinforced concrete bridge over the Bechelihu River.

The government will, by the end of July, settle GHC4 billion out of the large debt owed to road contractors. Currently, the government owes road contractors GHC21 billion, according to the Roads Minister. President John Mahama emphasized his government's commitment to infrastructure development under his administration’s 24-hour economy agenda. On his part, prioritising road construction and the swift resumption of stalled road projects holds the key to promoting economic growth and productivity by ensuring adequate regional connectivity.

The announcement has been met with excitement and optimism by many stakeholders in the construction sector. The Ghana Institute of Engineers and the Association of Road Contractors have largely welcomed the president's announcement, but they have called for transparency. They have called on the government to publish clear timelines and payment schedules to ensure that contractors can plan and mobilize resources effectively.

In March this year, Deputy Minister for Roads and Highways Alhassan Suhuyini acknowledged the significant financial burden facing the government to clear outstanding debts owed to contractors and suppliers. His remarks followed the presentation of the 2025 budget by Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, who disclosed that the government’s total commitments to contractors stand at a staggering GH¢67.5 billion.

He emphasized the importance of prioritizing road maintenance, a sector that has suffered due to poor upkeep. "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.

Mr Suhuyini noted that, in addition to paying off some existing road maintenance debts, the government is looking at a broader infrastructure push. "With GH¢10 to GH¢13 billion allocated under the ‘Big Push’ initiative, several new road projects will commence, while some outstanding debts will also be retired," he added.