Ghana Roads Minister warns surveyors over compensation delays

Ghana's Minister of Roads and Highways, Kwame Governs Agbodza, has accused surveyors of sabotaging the Accra-Kumasi bypass project by allegedly coaching property owners to reject government compensation offers. The Minister warned that professionals found influencing claimants to refuse packages would face consequences, noting that such conduct threatens a road corridor vital to the national economy.

In response to systemic challenges regarding compensation claims, the Ghana Institution of Surveyors (GhIS) and the Ministry of Roads and Highways have agreed to enhance collaboration. Following a meeting between Minister Agbodza and GhIS President Emmanuel Kofi Cobbold, both parties identified issues including acquisition delays, inconsistent assessments, and inadequate stakeholder engagement.

The two entities will establish a structured technical process to review compensation administration. This initiative aims to improve information exchange, strengthen consultations, and ensure compliance with the 1992 Constitution and the Land Act, 2020, to protect the rights of affected persons while ensuring value for money in public infrastructure projects.