The Minister for Roads and Highways, Governs Kwame Agbodza, has issued a stern warning to Top International Engineering (Gh) Ltd., the contractor behind the stalled Enchi–Elubo road project, accusing the company of pocketing GH¢82 million in public funds without delivering meaningful work.
The Minister’s anger stems from what he describes as a pattern of disregard by the construction firm, which was engaged to build the 71.25-kilometre road linking Enchi to Elubo in the Western North Region.
According to Agbodza, despite collecting GH¢82 million from government, the contractor has little to show for the years spent on the project.
“Top International basically doesn’t intend to do the work because they think they have our GH¢82 million,” he stated.
The Minister revealed that when the Ministry summoned the company to account for the slow pace of work, the firm’s owner failed to honour the invitation.
“The contractor, the owner of the company himself, never turned up. He is always in Nigeria. He’s probably got better things to do than to come and do this work,” Agbodza said.
He, however, assured that government would not lose the money, explaining that the payment was secured with a bond that the state can cash in should the contract be terminated — stressing that the funds remain public money that can be recovered.
The Minister and Member of Parliament for the Adaklu constituency also expressed disappointment at the physical state of the road, noting that communities along the stretch continue to lack basic infrastructure such as drainage systems, years after work commenced.
“Look at all the towns. No concrete working, no U-drains, nothing. Just a few cross culverts they did at the beginning. What is that?” he questioned.
The Minister said his concerns deepened after a visit to the area in May, where residents lamented the deplorable condition of the road. Following that engagement, the Ministry directed the contractor to mobilise back to site — an instruction, he said, the company ignored.
“I am very disappointed in Top International Company. They did not take our instruction to come to site and work seriously the way we thought they should,” he said.
Agbodza noted that the company has been attached to the project since around 2016, with successive governments repeatedly re-awarding the contract to it — an arrangement he insists cannot continue.
He has therefore given Top International Engineering (Gh) Ltd. an ultimatum: appear before the Ministry this Friday with its directors and key officials to explain the lack of progress, or forfeit the contract entirely.
“Meet me Friday, 7 o’clock at the ministry, with everybody that matters in that company, or they should consider the job taken away from them. It’s as simple as that,” the Minister declared.
By Gifty Boateng