Ghana Roads Ministry Pushes for Infrastructure Reform

The Ministry of Roads and Highways has initiated discussions aimed at overhauling the regulatory framework governing civil engineering projects across the country. According to leadership within the sector, the current mandatory one-year defect liability period for road contractors and consultants is no longer sufficient to guarantee the long-term durability of public infrastructure.

Speaking during a recent stakeholder engagement in Accra, sector officials emphasized that structural failures often manifest well after the initial 12-month window expires, leaving the taxpayer to bear the heavy financial burden of premature rehabilitation works. The proposed policy shift seeks to hold engineering firms and construction contractors to higher standards of accountability.

Evaluating the One-Year Defect Liability Standard

Under current public procurement and contract administration guidelines in Ghana, contractors are legally bound to repair structural defects, surface cracking, and drainage failures at their own expense within one year of project handover. However, sector experts and policymakers argue that this timeframe is inadequate for major asphalt overlays and highway construction, particularly given the country’s intense tropical rainfall patterns and heavy axle-load vehicular traffic.

• Current Standard: 12 months of mandatory defect reporting and contractor-funded repairs.
• Proposed Changes: Extension of the liability window to better match the design life of modern highways.
• Key Objectives: Mitigating premature road deterioration and maximizing value for public funds.

Ensuring Value for Money in Public Works

The push for an extended liability period forms part of a broader government strategy to sanitize the road construction sector and eliminate substandard workmanship. Over the years, the Ghanaian government has channeled significant capital expenditures into expanding national road networks, yet recurrent maintenance issues continue to strain the national budget.

By compelling contractors and consultants to take long-term ownership of their engineering outputs, the Ministry aims to foster a culture of excellence and stringent quality control. Industry stakeholders, including the Association of Road Contractors, are expected to engage in comprehensive consultations to draft feasible implementation guidelines that balance infrastructural longevity with commercial realities in the local construction market.