Roads Minister orders probe into rapid deterioration of €95m Tarkwa-Agona Nkwanta road

Minister for Roads and Highways, Kwame Agbodza, has called for an immediate investigation into the rapid deterioration of portions of the newly reconstructed Tarkwa-Agona Nkwanta Road in the Western Region.

The 66-kilometre stretch, completed only months ago at a cost of €95 million, is already showing significant signs of wear and damage. The issue came to the fore during the Minister’s inspection tour of major infrastructure projects in the region on Friday.

Project Manager Joaquim Ferreira attributed the damage to severe overloading by heavy-duty trucks transporting materials such as manganese and bauxite. He cautioned that if the practice continues unchecked, it could severely undermine the longevity of the road.

“There is no doubt that overloading is damaging our roads and the axle load programme is quite problematic,” Agbodza told the media following an unannounced visit to the Apimanim axle load station, where five trucks were intercepted for carrying loads well beyond legal limits — in some instances, exceeding the threshold by up to 20 tonnes.

In response to the findings, Agbodza announced the formation of a five-member committee tasked with examining the operations of the axle load enforcement programme nationwide. The aim, he explained, is to identify systemic flaws and propose measures to protect Ghana’s road infrastructure from premature and preventable damage.

The committee’s work is expected to help the government implement urgent reforms that will not only strengthen road preservation efforts but also ensure that future investments in road construction yield longer-lasting benefits.