🔥Big Push Gets Serious: Ghana Army Work on Accra–Kumasi Expressway, Roads Minister Fires Contractors

Added: 2026-05-12

[00:00:00]So we are now at kilome 74 and then Kumasi is at 175. So we are about 100 km away from Kumas.

[00:00:10]>> We are not unhappy for nothing sake. We be we should be celebrating if the big push have been built around the Ghanaian contractor deliberately go to and see the people with the condition in which the people are in in that se section how do you call it why should the president suffer abuse on this corridor because he's giving you work and you are not doing the Do you read social media? Do you see Tik Tok?

[00:00:44]Do you see the kind of thing they said about us? What wrong have we done?

[00:00:47]Because we gave you job, they you don't want to do the work. So we suffer abuse for that. You have 2 months to do 20%.

[00:00:54]Or we are not even coming to talk to you. We will terminate and you can go to court. He came to the ministry begging that they have capacity.

[00:01:03]>> You begged you begged >> to get this work.

[00:01:07]>> We didn't we didn't impose it on you.

[00:01:09]Mhm.

[00:01:09]>> So I don't even see why we should be talking about this.

[00:01:13]>> HALLELUJAH.

[00:01:27]push >> men contracted take jobs. They know that there's no penalty for not completing on time. So they complete when they complete but on this big push it's not like that.

[00:01:36]>> They will not uh be spared if they allow shorty work to be done. We will we will insist on speed without sacrificing quality.

[00:01:49]Ghana Armed Forces Ghana Armed Forces the 64 engineers Ghana Armed Forces the military men expressway is I mean AGAIN one of the expressway political talk of defense staff.

[00:02:46]We are presently located here at a distance of 68 km away from Akra and our objective is the clearing of the Aka proposed Aka Kumasi express road. Sakala codes and symbols are conventional.

[00:03:03]So the major towns along which this road passes or falls are we have we have a and which is in I would say that we are 5 weeks into the clearing operation. Two teams have currently been formed as I mentioned with team A heading towards Ara and team Bravo towards Cheda. And so far the team have cleared a total of 17.75 km which is about 10% of the total work that we are supposed to execute.

[00:03:41]There's a swamp just at the point where the road >> was somewhere there.

[00:03:45]>> Yes, we were somewhere there.

[00:03:46]>> Okay.

[00:03:46]>> And then we have come all the way to this. So this is the farthest point we have come heading towards Kumasa. So we are now at kilome 74 and then Kumasi is at 175. So we are about 100 km away from Kumas.

[00:04:02]>> So we have come all the way from Ara to come and commend you for being in the field all this while waiting for the right equipment for us to commence this particular project. Now that we have everything, it is all is said for us to push ahead, make sure we meet our targeted uh KPIs and then do a good job so that we can be able to clear the right of way for the Acra Kumasi Expressway project itself to take off.

[00:04:35]But with what I've seen so far, I want to commend you for your man's job. We know been difficult. You have left your families, but you are the guys who are now lifting up the flag of the Ghana forces once again. This is our contribution to the development of the country and let's do it to the best of our ability. Our engineers have been topnotch all these years. But now that we have been given the opportunity to show what we are made up of, let's do it and do it well. So from Accra from the service chiefs and all your colleagues they are happy with what you are doing when we have come to commend you and to encourage you. So keep it up.

[00:05:16]Okay.

[00:05:17]>> So make sure that in your dealings especially when we come across uh some farms and uh properties let's be sure that they have been assessed by the valuers already and we've been given the go ahead before we go ahead to uh destroy them. But once again, thank you for your hard work and let's see how we push this through. We have given ourselves 20 weeks, 20 weeks within which to finish this particular site. So give it all your best. Uh when there are issues within the shortest possible time, let us know and be rest assured that everything that you require for you to get this job done, we'll make it available for you.

[00:06:00]Yeah, because First clear Mark% or we terminate. You're not the first person we are we are telling. We went to we went to Bono, how do you call it? H Western. You didn't even turn up on the site.

[00:07:07]You did not even turn up on the site when you took mobilization on that one as well.

[00:07:13]The equipment. In fact, you didn't even have a site cam when we were going the truck. You that you did some you trying to do something like this. The track carrying your how do you call it? H grader even got spoiled on the way. They didn't even get to the site. Go to and see the people the condition in which the people are in in that se section ent.

[00:07:37]It's not right.

[00:07:39]We are not unhappy for nothing sake. who be who we who should be celebrating you.

[00:07:43]The big push have been built around the Ghanaian contractor deliberately deliberately. You have you have capacity. You are not a a company registered yesterday or have got one staff or four staff or anything. You are a big company but your bigness is not showing in the actual delivery of your projects and we need to say this in the afternoon for everybody to hear. You must change the way you operate your things. At the moment it's not helpful to you. is not helpful to to the country. Why should the president suffer abuse on this corridor? Because he's giving you work and you are not doing the work.

[00:08:18]Do you read social media? Do you see Tik Tok? Do you see the kind of thing they say about that? What wrong have we done?

[00:08:24]Because we gave you job, they you don't want to do the work. So, we suffer abuse for that. Big job. Do you know how many people are looking for big job? 5,000 people are applying to do big a big push. You've got one of the biggest sections almost 100 km more than 100 km. You are sitting on the job.

[00:08:45]Well, we have said what we are we have to say. You have 2 months to do 20% or we are not even coming to talk to you.

[00:08:51]will terminate and you can go to COURTS 30% of Ghana so far% report GH worried I'll come for you whatever there's no no point going to stop somewhere else it's the same contractor >> yes >> so so When you say they are 1% uh behind schedule, what work have they been doing?

[00:09:59]>> Um the the there's been some challenges with regards to this. There were some health issues that delayed their setting up of what >> their site camp the land they acquired to set up their site camp. And there were some issues.

[00:10:16]He had he actually realized the land had already been sold to you. What has that got to do with >> minister to minister?

[00:10:23]>> Thank you very much.

[00:10:25]>> So minister, we've been here since the 1st of December >> last year when we received our commencement >> and we have undertaken a few activities.

[00:10:34]>> So first we had to undertake the lighter submit for the entire corridor. It's a 50 plus that stretch.

[00:10:40]>> We did that did the designs and submitted. We also undertook a survey of all the building structures >> that was also done and then we also submitted a report as as part of our design to the Ghana road authority. We have actually now started with the clearing of the road corridor. The township section where he mentioned us having a dual carriage. We have had to uh uh communicate with the community because there have to be some compensation done. The valuation have come in from the Ghana community. That valuation has been >> what is the length across the those towns?

[00:11:17]>> Yes. 23 m. 23 m.

[00:11:21]>> No. What is the distance?

[00:11:22]>> 7 km.

[00:11:23]>> 7 km >> within the town.

[00:11:25]>> Within the town out of out of 45 >> out of 745. So you are talking about 40 uh 7 out of 45.

[00:11:34]>> So about 40 km hasn't got any problem.

[00:11:37]>> Yes. Good.

[00:11:38]>> So for the township we are we currently under we undertook the valuation and that has concluded. The report is yet to come out for the people to be compensated then the structures can be demolished for the towns. But for the larger spectrum of it which is about uh about about 30 about uh 40 43 km >> this is where we are actively clearing now and started with our entries.

[00:12:04]>> So that has been done. We had a little challenge uh some time back where there was a curfew because there was a communal conflict. We had to demobilize and for it.

[00:12:13]>> Did you hear what he's saying?

[00:12:15]>> You started by telling me that you started by telling me hold on.

[00:12:19]>> You started by telling me the problem they have >> is because they they have litigation not to set up camp >> which was interesting.

[00:12:26]>> Yes. Now he's not even talking about it.

[00:12:29]>> I'll come to that please. I'll come to that. The issue is that for the science camp we acquired the land from the parliament chief of gast of land which we actually set up our depot putting putting machinery into the camp because you can find out from the community from 1st of December we've had equipments on the site >> they have not moved >> even now we have to move away from the site and move to an adjacent lot because they have sued us in court and we had to be instructed by the court to vacate the place. However, the Bali parliament chief has resorted to fix the issue by giving them a different track of land.

[00:13:08]They are doing that through India. That will be resolved. But that is not affecting what we are doing now. As you can see, we are actively working. I will entreat you to drive.

[00:13:18]>> When did you start actually?

[00:13:20]>> 600 m or >> 600 m. Yes.

[00:13:22]>> Less than a kilometer.

[00:13:24]>> Yes. is with the exception of the fat plant they are fully mobilized for this particular confident that the mobilized so why are they not working with >> that's why I said they their concrete guns honestly are not are not enough they have like two for now they have like two guns only two guns so I've spoken to them to increase the number of contract guns to have to speed up with the west >> when did you when did you do When did you give them that uh reminder?

[00:13:58]>> Oh, even last week he went to Tamale just on Thursday. Was it Thursday he went to Tamale?

[00:14:05]>> Yes.

[00:14:06]>> On Thursday he had to go to Tamale >> to look for more moves to buy. That's what he told me.

[00:14:14]Are they using metal or using?

[00:14:19]>> Yes.

[00:14:23]But this is a you are project managing them. It is their job to know where to buy. They came to the ministry begging that they have capacity.

[00:14:34]>> You begged you begged to get this work. We didn't we didn't impose it on you.

[00:14:40]>> So I don't even see why we should be talking about this. You begged and said you have the capacity and everything. So Well, if they are supposed to finish the UI by August, >> we want to see the 12 kilometers of the Urin by end of August.

[00:15:07]Big push. You work how many away do you work a day? How many away do you work a day? You work a day.

[00:15:15]They normally break from they start at 600. It's 6 to 6, but they work 10 hours. Two, they always have 2 hours.

[00:15:23]>> You start doing some work in the night, start polishing in the night and other things.

[00:15:38]So what is preventing you since you are doing your best?

[00:15:46]HALLELUJAH.

[00:16:04]contract expressway. Have you ever been a believer armed forces armed forces duty machines?

[00:16:54]The chief of defense staff armed forces.

[00:17:12]Fantastic. But the biggest in the history of Ghana, the biggest roadway arce USA.

[00:17:53]WHY NOT?

[00:18:00]IN THE HISTORY OF GHANA. THE BIGGEST ROAD ever because commanderin-chief of GHANA ARMED FORCES CREATE A NEW DIFFERENT ROAD.

[00:18:36]This is also the reason VIP 2 express 2 hours 30 minutes.

[00:18:54]Depending on speed, heavy quality.

[00:19:17]less, more job opportunities. But Ghana armed forces and this is one of the news almost all kinds of people armed forces.

[00:19:51]because historical event in the history of Ghana connected the two big cities Ghana Armed Forces. This is the trust the commander and chief of Ghana armed forces.

[00:20:39]ROAD MINISTER, HONORABLE GOVERNOR.

[00:20:43]Rest assured.

[00:20:55]construction.

[00:21:20]I said this is unacceptable.

[00:21:23]Don't accept anybody who says he's NDC or PP. We are not doing party politics here. We want to build lasting and durable rules for Ghana.

[00:21:34]>> Are we working to the contractor's program for our program?

[00:21:37]>> He submitted the program and then we are >> and you approved it that for 5 months all that that is what they'll be doing >> clearing. Yes sir.

[00:21:46]>> For 5 months.

[00:21:47]>> So what happened to to the the December last year? So by their program the program is said that >> don't be talking about the contractor's program contractors work to the schedule of the government. Yes. Even if it's design and build you work according to our program. The fact that the contractor brings a program doesn't mean that it's acceptable to us. The the clearing that will be on this >> doesn't look like clearing that was done you know in in in say January or February. It looks like clearing that was done only about today.

[00:22:23]>> Three or four days ago today. And so so there are people in the community. When was this clearing done? So that we don't >> Yes. When was >> when did you see this road being cleared?

[00:22:32]>> When did you do this clearing?

[00:22:34]>> We started on paper.

[00:22:35]>> April. This cannot be clearing that I'm talking about here. When did you clear it?

[00:22:40]>> This place was a place in April.

[00:22:48]>> Yes, we did in April. This cannot be April.

[00:22:54]>> This cannot be. Nobody's blind. This cannot be April clearing.

[00:22:58]>> No, we did. We did in April. Today we are doing a popup clearing. That was what we are doing.

[00:23:04]>> I am asking you when was this clear? You said in April. Now you are saying that you did one and you are doing another one today.

[00:23:09]>> Just an indication that no work has been happening at all. And yet these contractors, many of them have received mobilization. In fact, the information we have is that on this particular project alone about 66 million Ghana cities has been paid to the country mobilization mobilization.

[00:23:25]>> Yes, this is totally unacceptable.

[00:23:28]>> So when VA impacts takes 66 million Ghana city mobilization and all we get is we did some clearing in April and we have that a top up clearing totally unacceptable.

[00:23:39]>> Let's review the program. Okay.

[00:23:41]>> And the beneficial owners of the company must appear with yourself.

[00:23:44]>> Okay sir. on Thursday 8:00 at the ministry >> minister >> even if anybody comes to you to say >> he is a member of MDC and a contractor tell him that when he's coming to do the work it is not about his or her membership of your party >> it is about delivering on the work if he cannot deliver he's not part of your your agenda >> perfectly agree >> so don't accept anybody who says that he's NDC or NPP we are not doing party politics here we want to build lasting and durable road for for Ghana and I urge the media pay attention to what this contractor are doing. Today you are told that that contractor has been paid 66 million citiz.

[00:24:27]>> Yes, >> we have given money to somebody in advance of of of the work.

[00:24:32]>> How many when was the last time we paid I mean mobilization to contractors in this country in the past 8 years. How many times? Of course they are supposed their case is even worse because of the quantum of money they have taken. So we are saying that on Thursday 8:00 they should appear at the minute with the regional director of highway. We make a determination about that. If it appears the contractor does not have the capacity to do the work we terminate. We can go to court and settle the matter.

[00:24:57]Let build a road for our people. road ministering sum of 66.3 million Ghana cities AND COUNTRIES billion6.3 million Ghana cities contract.

[00:25:50]WHAT DO YOU MEAN? immediately by mama under the big push agenda about speed, durability, quality and at the same time value for money.

[00:26:24]by7 network in West Africa because Ghana confidence minister% of the project 30% 30% of Ghana construction project No time FOR serious to work. We are working for Ghen country.

[00:27:58]When contractors take a job, they know they they are there. They know there's no penalty for not completing it on time. But on this big push, when contractors take a job, they know there is no penalty for completing it on time. But on this big push, it is not like that. Contractors take jobs. They know that there's no penalty for not completing on time. So they complete when they complete. But on this big push, it's not like that. You have to complete on.

[00:28:27]>> We do understand. We do. We do understand that. But you don't if you understand how come you are not working as much as we expect you to.

[00:28:36]>> First of all, I haven't seen enough planted equipment and I haven't seen enough polish material ready to be to be used >> the the game. Okay.

[00:28:49]>> Your your performance is better than the first lot we saw without a doubt. But yours is neither impressive.

[00:28:58]It's not impressive.

[00:29:01]>> So I think we should we should reduce we should limit you to one lock and introduce somebody who is uh more aggressive or hungry work.

[00:29:16]That is that is that is my proposal.

[00:29:26]The same drum, the same music, the same dance.

[00:29:43]Every sack deputy minister honorable Allah suini as said no one will be spared if they allow shy work to be done. We will insist on speed without sacrificing quality >> on site and uh when you asked your question you should have seen how he was shaking his head because they know that uh h they will not h be spared if they allow shy work to be done. We will we will insist on speed without sacrificing quality. I could say when uh we say that including this contractor came back we have over 5,000 contractors registered who were pushing to participate in the big push program. The ministry and agencies have a criteria of selecting them to work.

[00:30:48]All the contractors who are selected have proven they have the capacity to do the work. This is time to deliver.

[00:30:58]They have been given 24 months to do the work. We have we are doing an inspection. Some of them are doing very well. In fact, some contractors have done 50%. In fact, we can actually complete some of the big push projects before the end of the year.

[00:31:12]>> End of this year.

[00:31:12]>> That is the point we are making and their terrain is even worse >> than this >> than this. So when we say they they beg for it. Of course, if you are just 50 chosen out of 5,000, you should know that there's a lot of expectation uh coming from your your your your side. So, we are expecting that this contractor backs up. My brother has already said 2 months is what they have. So, chief director issue them the first warning letter uh for performing less than our expectation. Uh I know we need to give them two before we terminate but on big push we are fast tracking everything. If the next time we come and they are not performing according to our schedule we tell you to step aside we bring somebody you can meet us at court. What the Ghanaian needs is that the Ghanaian through their representatives in parliament have put aside money to pay for big push contractors. As we are saying the government was owing contractors a huge amount of money almost 40 billion. The president directed the finance minister we paid 4 billion to as aras already project he did not award he's also paid every big push contractor which has raised work certificate and let me say not every big push contractor raised certificates for mobilization some of them have also not raised any work certificate indeed if you haven't worked what certificate are you going to to raise so at the moment we don't have money crisis that we say that contractors are doing big push project and they are not working because they are not being paid and if the Ghanaian hears that you have taken mobilization or you haven't raised certificate yet you are not working then what is your your use on the on on on the site historically contractors are used to working according to their own time maybe 99% of project in Ghana never get completed on schedule but with big push we will not wait until the end we'll take you out of the schedule so that we complete on But quality speed and quality together.

[00:33:32]Okay.

[00:33:35]I don't honorable governor deputy contractor.

[00:33:51]school.

[00:34:13]finish it at the same time.

[00:34:16]How happy are you when it come to your road minister and how old Ghana armed forces progress.

[00:34:56]The big push will make sure.

[00:35:10]Do you believe in that?

[00:35:19]When it come to Ghana road calendar on naked.

[00:35:25]Bye-bye.