The Minister for Roads and Highways, Hon. Governs Kwame Agbodza, has voiced strong concerns over the strain Ghana’s road infrastructure is facing due to the heavy use of haulage trucks transporting raw materials from mining sites.
Speaking during an inspection tour of the 25-kilometer Takoradi–Agona Nkwanta road, the Minister pointed to the unsustainable pressure placed on the country’s roads, particularly by trucks moving bauxite, manganese, and other minerals to the port and inland destinations.
“The real challenge is that these trucks continue to damage roads that are not meant for such heavy use.
“No successful mining operation elsewhere relies solely on road transport for bulk materials. This is a major reason why our roads don’t last as long as they should,” he said.
Standing near a section of the road where several trucks could be seen transporting minerals, Hon. Agbodza questioned the long-term logic behind such practices.
“Just behind us, we can see heavy trucks transporting raw materials to the port and other destinations. It raises a serious question: does any country truly pursue extractive industry using roads for distances of 50 to 60 kilometers?” he asked.
