The Ministries of Transport, Roads and Highways, and Finance, along with their agencies, appeared before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Wednesday, October 29, 2025, to answer questions on audit infractions.
Appearing before the Committee, the Minister for Roads and Highways, Hon. Kwame Agbodza, assured that steps are underway to complete the Kumasi by-pass within 18 months, noting that all debts owed to consultants and contractors have been settled, allowing work to resume.
He also warned that punitive measures will be taken against third-party service providers who permit vehicle overloading, stressing that defective data from axle load stations had contributed to the problem.
“Our contractors are doing well, and huge sums are being spent to build our roads. We will not sit by for greedy individuals to destroy them,” he lamented.
The Minister for Transport, Hon. Joseph Bukari Nikpe, disclosed that railway workers who had gone 12 months without pay would soon receive their salaries, as funds have now been released. He admitted, however, that railway operations remain non-functional.
Representing the Finance Ministry, Deputy Minister Hon. Ampem Nyarko appeared alongside key agencies, including the Venture Capital Trust Fund, State Interests and Governance Authority (SIGA), Minerals Income Investment Fund (MIIF), Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), and the Internal Audit Agency.
The Director-General of the Internal Audit Agency, Mr. Thompson-Aryee, appealed to Parliament for more staff, revealing that only 51 officers currently oversee 369 government agencies, a situation he described as severely inadequate.
PAC members commended Dr. James Kofi Kutsoati and his team from COCOBOD for their efforts in retrieving unearned salaries paid to two employees of the Cocoa Health and Extension Division in Kumasi.
The Committee, chaired by Hon. Abena Osei-Asare, announced that its sittings will continue on Thursday, October 30, 2025.
By Alhassan S. Sadat
