Agbodza Fumes at Chinese Road Contractor Over Poor Performance: "Your Section Is the Poorest"

Roads and Highways Minister Kwame Governs Agbodza has once again demonstrated zero tolerance for contractor underperformance, publicly dressing down Chinese contractors from Greenhouse Development during a inspection tour of the Eastern Corridor Road project on Tuesday, November 10, 2026.

The minister's anger was palpable as he confronted the contractors on-site, questioning how a company with three asphalt pavers deployed could have completed only approximately six kilometres of binder course. He described their section of the Eastern Corridor as the worst-performing on the entire project .

The Confrontation: Three Pavers, Six Kilometres

Despite the contractor having mobilised three asphalt paving machines, Agbodza expressed deep frustration at the limited progress in laying crushed rock and binder along the stretch. While acknowledging that activity had increased since his last inspection, he maintained that performance remained far below acceptable standards .

"On the Eastern Corridor currently, your section is the poorest in terms of performance. The performance on the Eastern Corridor is the poorest, and nobody is happy about saying this," Agbodza stated bluntly .

The minister also faulted the company for failing to address potholes and other road defects, despite an earlier directive to significantly ramp up operations.

Bitumen Blame Game

The contractor's representative attempted to deflect blame, citing challenges in securing the required PG bitumen and claiming the supply process had hampered progress. According to the contractor's administrator, Jerome Chen, bitumen needed for the project only arrived on September 10, disrupting the work schedule .

Chen further claimed that Ghana's directive requiring contractors to purchase bitumen exclusively from GoEnergy, a subsidiary of GOIL, had constrained supply .

Agbodza was unmoved. He issued a direct warning that if GoEnergy could not meet required quantities, the government would immediately seek alternative suppliers.

"If they are not able to give us the quantities, we would have to take a different route. If you can't provide it, we'll look for alternative suppliers. We have no time to wait for anybody," he warned .

No Extension, No Mercy

When the contractor indicated it would need three to four months to complete the binder course on the remaining 27 kilometres, Agbodza rejected the timeline outright. He pointed out the logical inconsistency: if the company claimed it could lay approximately one kilometre daily, the proposed schedule made no sense.

"We are not going to give you an extension of time. Not a day extension of time. And we rather charge you for delaying the project," he declared .

The minister subsequently directed the supervising engineer to compel the contractor to submit a revised work programme, stating that the current strategy provided insufficient assurance of timely completion .

A Pattern of Tough Oversight

This confrontation is not an isolated incident. Agbodza, a chartered architect turned politician, has earned a reputation as a hands-on minister who prefers construction sites to air-conditioned offices.

During the same Eastern Corridor inspection, he also slammed Greenhouse International Development (GH) Limited over unsatisfactory progress on the 53.35-kilometre Have–Hohoe Road reconstruction. That project, which has dragged on for approximately 14 years, has achieved only about 13 percent completion . In July 2026, Agbodza had given that contractor a two-month ultimatum to reach at least 20 percent progress or face contract termination. While some improvement was noted, the minister maintained that performance remained "way below my expectations" .

Earlier, in May 2026, Agbodza discovered that Top Engineering International, another Chinese firm, had received GH¢80.2 million in mobilisation funds for the Enchi–Elubo road yet completed only 5 percent of the work. He threatened immediate contract termination .

Who Is Kwame Agbodza?

Born on September 22, 1973, in Adaklu Kordiabe in the Volta Region, Agbodza is a registered architect with qualifications from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, the University of Westminster, and the University of East London. He is a member of both the Royal Institute of British Architects and the Ghana Institute of Architects .

He has represented the Adaklu constituency in Parliament since 2013 and served as Majority Chief Whip before President John Mahama appointed him Roads and Highways Minister in January 2025 .

His professional background in architecture and project management has informed his approach to the roads portfolio—an insistence on measurable progress, accountability, and consequences for failure.

What Happens Next

The contractor must now submit a revised work programme to the supervising engineer. Government oversight will continue, and the threat of contractual penalties—including financial charges for delays—remains live.

For communities along the Eastern Corridor who depend on this road for transport and trade, the minister's wrath may offer little immediate comfort. The true measure of Agbodza's tough talk will not be found in the dressing-down, but in the asphalt that eventually covers the remaining 27 kilometres.

Key Facts:

· Contractor: Greenhouse Development (Chinese-owned)

· Project: Eastern Corridor Road, designated section

· Completed Work: Approximately 6 km of binder course

· Minister's Verdict: Poorest performance on the corridor

· Contractor's Excuse: PG bitumen supply delays

· Minister's Response: No extension; alternative suppliers if needed

· Required Action: Submit revised work programme immediately