The Ministry of Roads and Highways is taking steps to crack down on substandard bitumen in road construction.
In a meeting with industry stakeholders earlier today, the Minister for Roads and Highways, Kwame Agbodza emphasized, “Government is committed to ensuring that only high-quality bitumen is used in the country’s road sector, especially with the ‘Big Push’ projects. We are determined to institute a clear policy direction and a robust regulatory oversight that guarantees durable, cost-effective road infrastructure in this country.”
“The Government is resolute in its commitment to delivering road infrastructure that provides value for money for the people of Ghana,” he reiterated.
The reforms aim to strengthen regulations, introduce licensing, update technical specs, and track bitumen from source to site for total accountability.
To this end, the Minister has set up a technical working committee to ensure bitumen quality in the country’s road construction sector. The Committee will also provide evidence-based policy advice to strengthen regulations, accreditation, and management of bitumen.
According to Hon. Agbodza, the goal is to ensure that only quality bitumen is used in the country, especially, for the ‘Big Push’ projects. The move is also geared at promoting a sustainable and cost-effective supply chain, enhance transparency in procurement, and align Ghana’s standards with global best practices.
Stakeholders at the meeting welcomed the intervention and highlighted critical operational issues including the absence of effective regulation governing imports, the negative influence of black-market activities, and persistent inconsistencies in product standards across different suppliers.
