Former Minister for Roads and Highways, Francis Asenso-Boakye, has strongly refuted claims by Roads and Highways Minister-designate, Kwame Governs Agbodza, that the Akufo-Addo administration constructed only 673 kilometres of new roads during its eight-year tenure.

Speaking on the floor of Parliament on Tuesday, January 21, 2025, Asenso-Boakye accused Agbodza of misrepresenting the facts and emphasized that the Akufo-Addo government constructed a total of 13,624 kilometres of roads between 2017 and 2025.

“Honorable Speaker, let me put on record that as of December 2024, per the transition report, the Akufo-Addo government had constructed 13,624 kilometres of road. This figure is against the 4,630 kilometres of road constructed by the previous government in eight years,” Asenso-Boakye said.

He insisted that the total road network completed under the Akufo-Addo administration was a record-breaking achievement and included significant components such as asphalt overlays, gravelling, reconstruction, and bridges.

The Bantama MP argued that Agbodza had deliberately focused on only the 673 kilometres of newly constructed roads to paint a misleading picture of the government’s performance. He explained that while new road construction was a key aspect of the administration’s efforts, other critical components such as asphalt overlays and re-graveling were equally significant.

He cited examples of asphalt overlay projects in Accra, Kumasi, Sunyani, and Takoradi that improved road quality and facilitated transportation.

Asenso-Boakye also highlighted the importance of gravelling, noting that approximately 6,000 kilometres of gravel roads were completed under Akufo-Addo’s leadership emphasizing the value of these projects, particularly in rural areas, where improved road networks are essential for connecting communities and enhancing accessibility.

He further noted that 1,665 kilometres of roads were reconstructed and upgraded, and 35 bridges were constructed nationwide during the NPP government’s tenure. These, he said, were all part of the administration’s transformative infrastructure agenda.

“Many of us represent rural communities and understand the importance of gravelling in linking people and improving accessibility in these areas. These projects are crucial and cannot be dismissed simply because they are not new road constructions,” he remarked.

This, he called on Parliament and the public to recognize the comprehensive nature of road infrastructure development undertaken during the NPP government’s tenure, noting that maintenance and upgrades are integral to a robust national road network.