Francis Asenso-Boakye, former minister for Roads and Highways
Francis Asenso-Boakye a former minister for Roads and Highways, has rejected assertions by Roads and Highways minister-designate, Kwame Governs Agbodza, regarding the scope of road construction under the Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo administration.
Speaking on the floor of Parliament on Tuesday, January 21, 2025, Asenso-Boakye contested Agbodza’s claim that only 673 kilometres of new roads were constructed during the previous government’s eight-year tenure.
“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 significantly higher than the 4,630 kilometres constructed by the previous government over eight years,” citinewsroom.com quoted him to have said.
The Bantama Member of Parliament described the 13,624 kilometres as a record-breaking achievement, emphasizing that the total included various road infrastructure projects, such as asphalt overlays, gravelling, reconstruction, and the construction of bridges.
Asenso-Boakye argued that Agbodza’s focus on the 673 kilometres of newly constructed roads was misleading and failed to reflect the broader scope of work undertaken by the Akufo-Addo administration.
He underscored that while constructing new roads was important, other aspects like asphalt overlays and gravelling played a crucial role in improving the nation’s road network.
“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 classified as new road constructions,” he remarked.
The former minister further outlined the administration’s efforts in road reconstruction and upgrades, revealing that 1,665 kilometres were rebuilt or improved during the eight-year tenure.
AM/KA
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