The Parliamentary Select Committee on Roads and Transport has raised concern over escalating outstanding claims and growing arrears within the road sector but has nonetheless urged Parliament to approve the 2026 budgetary allocation for the Ministry of Roads and Highways.
Presenting the Committee’s report on the floor of Parliament on Tuesday, December 2, the Chairperson of the Committee, Isaac Adjei Mensah, said the Committee was referred to scrutinize the ministry’s allocation and subsequently held extensive deliberations with the Ministry of Finance and officials of the Roads Ministry.
He disclosed that one of the major challenges confronting the sector is inadequate staffing, particularly within the Departments of Feeder Roads, Urban Roads, Highways, as well as the Road Fund Secretariat.
According to the report, the ministry will recruit 137 new staff in 2026 to address critical manpower gaps.
“We think that it is something that we need to support,” he told the House.
Mr. Adjei Mensah further revealed that outstanding claims owed contractors have surged sharply, rising from about GH₵11 billion in 2024 to over GH₵19 billion in 2025, an increase of GH₵7.8 billion. He described the development as worrying.
A similar situation, he noted, exists within the Road Fund, where arrears have jumped from GH₵5 billion to GH₵9 billion.
He, however, said the Roads Minister assured the Committee that the Fund has recently recorded improved inflows, allowing for partial payments to ease pressure on contractors and the ministry.
The Committee also emphasized the need for enhanced performance indicators to effectively assess the ministry’s delivery, pointing to the importance of road condition assessments in determining efficiency and progress.
The Committee recommended that Parliament approve the budgetary allocation for the Ministry of Roads and Highways for the 2026 fiscal year.
“I recommend to this House that the allocated funds for the ministry be approved accordingly,” he said.
