A former Deputy Roads Minister under the Mahama administration, Isaac Adjei Mensah has questioned President Nana Akufo-Addo’s claim of over 10,000 kilometres of roads constructed.
According to him, the actual length of roads constructed by the Akufo-Addo government within five years cannot compare to the work done by former presidents John Mahama and John Kufuor.
“How could the Akufo-Addo government claim that, within the last five years, it has performed more than President Kufuor for instance who in the first term had added over 7,000 km to roads and even Mahama who at the end of his term he had constructed 5,955 kilometres. The Roads Ministry said grading is part, but it is classified as routine maintenance. That is not a new road,” he said.
The President in his State of the Nation Address flaunted his work record in the road sector as unmatched.
“Some ten thousand, eight hundred and seventy-five (10,875) kilometres of new roads have been constructed in these five (5) years. Let me mention that yesterday, it was my honour and great pleasure to have commissioned the Tamale Interchange, the first such interchange in the northern sector of our country, which the people of Tamale celebrated. I considered it to be a most satisfying birthday present,” the president said.
But his claim has come under scrutiny, with opposition elements challenging his view.
A fact-checking report by Citi News also found the claim to be false. The report rather finds true that the road development projects (not exclusive to new constructions) were 4,263.37 kilometres.
