The Minister for Roads and Highways, Governs Kwame Agbodza, has urged engineers supervising government road projects to exercise professional independence and hold contractors accountable, irrespective of their perceived political connections.
Mr. Agbodza said engineers must have the confidence to rely on their professional judgement and take appropriate action when contractors fail to meet contractual obligations or comply with project specifications.
Speaking to newsmen, the Roads and Highways Minister cautioned engineers against being intimidated by contractors who may be perceived as having close relationships with senior government officials, including ministers or the President.
He said no contractor should be considered untouchable because of their political or personal connections, stressing that professional standards must guide the supervision and implementation of road projects.
“There was a culture where maybe engineers felt that contractor A is a friend of the minister or the president. If I go hard on him or her, they will report me and something will happen to me and that is why you hear me saying that no contractor is bigger than the smallest engineer supervising you.
“So they should exercise the courage to deal with them. Even if my mother is a contractor, you are overseeing. Deal with him or her in the way that is within your professional view. I don’t think there is any contractor closer to me or the president or anybody who has got the licence to do the wrong thing or delay any project.”
Mr. Agbodza’s comments underline the importance of effective supervision in ensuring that road projects are delivered according to agreed specifications, timelines and quality standards.
