Roads Minister warns utility firms, telcos against digging newly completed roads

The Minister for Roads and Highways, Governs Kwame Agbodza, has warned utility companies and telecommunications operators against cutting into newly constructed or rehabilitated roads to install underground infrastructure.

The Minister said service providers must coordinate with road contractors and ensure that water pipelines, electricity cables, telecommunications lines and other underground facilities are installed before roads are completed.

He issued the warning during an inspection of road construction projects in the Ashanti Region, where he called for stronger collaboration between contractors and utility companies to prevent damage to newly completed roads and avoid unnecessary expenditure on repairs.

According to Mr. Agbodza, the government will hold service providers responsible if they damage roads that have already been completed.

“As for this time round, we are not going to allow any service provider to dig the road we are building. No way!” he warned.

“If we see anybody, either Ghana Water, Electricity Company, or Telcos, digging any road that we have completed, we’ll take a legal action and hold you accountable.”

He explained that utility companies have the opportunity to work with contractors during the construction process to make provisions for their infrastructure instead of waiting until the roads are completed before digging them up.

The Minister noted that such coordination would help protect road surfaces, maintain the quality of construction and save the state from additional repair costs.

His position was backed by contractors working on major road projects, who said early engagement with utility providers would allow the necessary ducts and other provisions to be incorporated into the road designs.

Kwabena Owusu Aduomi, one of the contractors, said utility providers should communicate their future plans to contractors before road construction is completed.

“They should be here, and then letting us know where in future they will pass their cables, because people will settle along this road by all means. So, those service providers, they should let us know,” he said.

The Roads Minister also directed contractors to speed up work and make effective use of the available construction period, stressing that extensions would only be considered where there are legitimate reasons.

The warning forms part of efforts by the government to ensure that ongoing road projects are completed to the required standards while preventing avoidable damage and additional costs.

By: Paulina Armah/ Radio1.