Member of Parliament for Atwima Nwabiagya South, Shirley Kyei, has raised concerns over the growing number of abandoned road projects in her constituency and the Ashanti Region in particular, urging the Department of Urban Roads to provide clear reasons and timelines for their completion.
Speaking during a Public Accounts Committee session, Mrs Kyei cited the Auditor-General’s report, which revealed that the Department of Urban Roads in Kumasi had expended over GH₵62 million on various road projects, many of which have been left unattended for between 48 and 56 months.
She particularly drew attention to the Maakro/Agogo road project in her constituency, which she noted has been left abandoned for far too long. “I am particularly conversant with the Maakro road, and I know how long it has taken,” she said, while demanding its urgent completion.
Responding, officials from the Department of Urban Roads admitted that several projects had stalled primarily due to delayed payments to contractors.
They revealed that the prolonged delays had made it more expensive to continue some of the projects in their current form, and therefore recommended that some contracts be terminated and repackaged for re-award.
The officials indicated that they hope to repackage and restart some works “before the end of the year,” subject to the availability of funds.
Mrs. Kyei, however, insisted that funds were already available, pressing the ministry to prioritize road completion in order to ease the suffering of constituents. “We already have money,” she emphasized.
The abandoned road projects in the Ashanti Region continue to fuel public discontent, with MPs like Shirley Kyei increasing pressure on government agencies to take decisive action and bring relief to affected communities.
Source: Opeinu Woyome
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