The Minister for Roads and Highways, Kwame Governs Agbodza, has dismissed claims that he travels with an excessively large convoy during official inspections, insisting that the ministry is committed to modesty and efficiency in the execution of government projects.
Addressing concerns during a road tour, the minister explained that the number of vehicles often seen accompanying him is largely due to the involvement of regional officials and technical teams who join the inspections at various points.
“We are not extravagant too, we don’t have a fleet of cars we have been driving around,” Mr. Agbodza stated.
According to him, the government’s “Big Push” infrastructure agenda requires contractors to be actively present on project sites, adding that the ministry initially had no plans to pay mobilisation fees to contractors.
“The President’s vision about the Big Push is that all contractors are supposed to be on site. Initially, we were not going to pay mobilisation to contractors, and later we decided to pay,” he said.
He disclosed that most contractors applied for advance mobilisation to enable them begin work immediately.
“As a matter of fact, the majority of the contractors applied for advance mobilisation. In fact, some even applied with the view that they just want to work and recertificate and get paid,” he noted.
Mr. Agbodza explained that during regional tours, his core convoy is usually limited.
“The way we work, if I am going, my deputy is going, and we have one vehicle with our security and my directors. We are normally seven maximum cars,” he said.
However, he indicated that additional vehicles are often added once regional authorities join the inspection team.
“Once we get into a region, the same number we have here is replicated — feeder roads, bad roads and highways — and even sometimes the Regional Minister, the MCE, the DCE. So almost all the time, there is a possibility of 10 other cars meeting you wherever you go, making it 17,” he explained.
The minister said it would be difficult to prevent local officials from participating in inspections involving projects within their jurisdictions.
“It is difficult for me to ask them. You are visiting somebody, how do you tell them not to?” he questioned.
He further explained that multiple project inspections within the same region also contribute to the movement of several vehicles.
“Sometimes the projects in the region are more than one, so while we meet at one place, they need to lead you to the next place,” he added.
Mr. Agbodza assured the public that the ministry would continue to exercise restraint and avoid unnecessary expenditure during official tours.
“We will try as much as possible to make sure that it doesn’t look like we are driving fuel around,” he stated.