The Minister for Roads and Highways, Kwame Governs Agbodza, says the government is considering reporting two individuals to the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) for allegedly influencing property owners affected by road projects to demand compensation far above government valuations.
According to the Minister, some individuals deliberately approach project-affected persons and encourage them to reject government’s compensation offers, promising to secure significantly higher amounts for them.
He said the practice is delaying road projects and causing financial losses to the state.
“They sometimes encourage the property owners to go to court to put injunction on the project. Due to this, we have lost a lot of money and sometimes the projects are delayed,” he said.
Mr Agbodza questioned how private surveyors could arrive at valuations several times higher than those conducted by government-authorised surveyors.
“The people who value the property are the same people they went to school with. How come when they finish their evaluation, you tell the project-affected people you can get them four times more than that?” he asked.
He urged those involved in the practice to desist, warning that the government was taking steps to have two of them investigated by EOCO.
“We are looking at the possibility of reporting two of those people to EOCO for investigations,” he added.
The Minister also said the courts have, on several occasions, ruled in favour of the government in disputes involving compensation claims.
Mr Agbodza made the remarks after inspecting a number of road projects in the Kumasi Metropolis.
Accra-Kumasi Road
On the Accra-Kumasi road, Mr Agbodza clarified that the new expressway under construction is not intended to replace the existing Accra-Kumasi road.
He said the government would continue to work on the existing road alongside the construction of the expressway.
“One of the contractors on the existing road has completed work, another is back on site, and the two others are expected back on site before the end of the month,” he said.
According to the Minister, the new expressway being prepared for construction is intended to provide an alternative route linking Accra and Kumasi.
The government has set a 2027 deadline for the completion of both road projects.
Mr Agbodza said delays affecting some sections of the projects were partly due to individuals allegedly encouraging affected property owners to pursue legal action in an attempt to secure higher compensation.
“The problem with the expressway now is the bypass. Contractors came to site and people showed up with guns to assault them. Those people who are part of that should know the state is bigger than them. The lands are not being taken forcefully,” he said.
As part of his visit to the Ashanti Region, the Minister inspected the partial reconstruction of the Emena, Appiadu and Donyina roads.
He also inspected ongoing works on the Kumasi Outer Ring Road Project.
Mr Agbodza subsequently inspected works at the Suame Interchange and ancillary works.
