The widespread issue of abandoned road projects across Ghana has been primarily attributed to poor planning and inadequate funding, according to Ing. Kwabena Bempong, President of the Ghana Institution of Engineering (GhIE).
Abandoned road projects have become a common frustration for many Ghanaians, who frequently express concerns over the difficulties in transportation and health risks posed by the dust from these unfinished roads. In the Central Region alone, the Ghana Highway Authority reported around 100 abandoned road projects as of 2023, causing significant inconvenience for residents.
In an exclusive interview with The High Street Journal, Ing. Bempong explained that these abandoned projects are often a result of inadequate planning, which leads to insufficient or nonexistent funding. “Most of these abandoned projects are due to poor planning, resulting in inadequate funding or no funding arrangements at all. Once the project starts, if the contractor doesn’t receive payment, they stop or abandon the work,” he stated.
Ing. Bempong also noted that the recent Debt Exchange Programme initiated by the government in response to economic challenges has further exacerbated the problem. The suspension of government debt payments to foreign creditors has halted funding for many contractors relying on foreign investments. This has led to the stalling of several major road projects, including the Aflao road from Tema, the Ashaiman to Akosombo road, and the Obetsebi Lamptey Circle road, among others. Northern project such as the Yendi road have also been affected.
When asked whether these delays increase project costs, Ing. Bempong confirmed that they do, often significantly. In addition to paying interest on delayed payments, he explained that contractors must be compensated for idle equipment and, in some cases, demobilization and remobilization costs. “You are required to pay for idle equipment and often the need for a variation of the contract so that the contractor will receive more money before he can continue. If the contractor demobilizes from the site, you have to pay for remobilization,” he added.
Furthermore, the structural integrity and lifespan of many of these abandoned projects may be compromised, depending on the stage of construction when work was halted. Ing. Bempong warned that prolonged exposure to weather conditions could lead to deterioration, particularly in projects involving reinforced concrete. “If you leave the reinforcement to the weather, especially along the coast, it will start rusting, potentially affecting the future integrity of the structure,” he explained.
Emphasizing the critical role of water management in road construction, Ing. Bempong identified water as a significant threat to road durability. “Water is the number one, number two, and number three enemies of roads. If you leave your roads without a proper drainage system, that will lead to the failure of the road pavement and other structures,” he concluded.
