Omanghana
The Minister for Roads and Highways, Kwame Governs Agbodza, has issued a two-month ultimatum to Greenhouse International Development (GH) Limited to significantly improve progress on the long-delayed Have–Hohoe Road reconstruction project or risk losing the contract.
The warning was delivered during a monitoring tour of road projects across the Eastern, Volta, and Oti regions, where the minister expressed strong dissatisfaction with the contractor’s performance on the critical transport corridor.
According to the minister, the project has remained under construction for nearly 14 years, yet progress has been extremely slow, leaving communities and road users frustrated by continued delays.
Contractor Given Two-Month Performance Target
Under the directive, Greenhouse International has been instructed to increase the project’s completion rate from its current 13 percent to at least 20 percent within two months.
Minister Agbodza warned that failure to achieve the target would result in the government terminating the contract and assigning the unfinished sections to another contractor capable of completing the work within an acceptable timeframe.
He stressed that the government could no longer tolerate prolonged delays on a project considered essential to regional connectivity and economic development.
Government Rejects Financial Excuses
The minister dismissed claims that outstanding government payments were responsible for the slow pace of work.
He stated that all previous debts owed to the contractor under the cocoa roads program had been fully settled, removing any justification for continued delays.
According to him, the focus must now shift from financial explanations to actual delivery and visible progress on the ground.
Ministry Raises Concerns Over Contractor Performance
The Roads Ministry identified several issues contributing to the slow advancement of the 53.35-kilometre reconstruction project.
Poor Mobilization of Equipment and Workforce
Officials criticized the contractor for failing to deploy enough workers, machinery, and resources to the project site.
Currently, construction activities are concentrated around a small section near Hokwe, while large portions of the road corridor remain untouched.
The ministry said the lack of adequate mobilization has significantly slowed progress and prevented the project from moving toward completion.
Failure to Address Environmental Concerns
The contractor was also criticized for failing to properly manage environmental challenges associated with the construction works.
Despite receiving funding to address issues such as dust control, the ministry said regular dust suppression activities have not been carried out.
Minister Agbodza expressed concern that residents and commuters in nearby communities have been forced to endure excessive dust due to unwatered roads and poor environmental management practices.
Concerns Over Competing Priorities
Local leaders have also raised concerns about the contractor’s priorities.
Hohoe Member of Parliament Thomas Worlanyo Tsekpo reportedly criticized the company for focusing attention on developing a private commercial mall in Hohoe while the major road project remains incomplete.
He argued that completing the trunk road should be the contractor’s primary responsibility given its importance to the region.
Strategic Importance of the Have–Hohoe Road
The Have–Hohoe Road forms an important section of Ghana’s Eastern Corridor Road Project, a major infrastructure initiative designed to improve connectivity between the country’s southern ports and northern regions.
The government has classified the project under the flagship “Big Push” infrastructure program, which aims to accelerate major national development projects.
Officials emphasized that the strategic importance of the road makes further delays unacceptable, particularly as communities and businesses continue to face transportation challenges.
Contractor Requests Final Opportunity
Following the minister’s warning, representatives of Greenhouse International reportedly appealed for another opportunity to improve performance.
The company is expected to deploy additional construction teams, increase equipment on-site, and accelerate activities in an effort to meet the government’s two-month deadline.
The Roads Ministry has indicated that progress will be closely monitored and that failure to meet the agreed target will trigger decisive action, including possible contract termination.
Source: Omanghana
