A former Deputy Upper West Regional Minister, Abu Kansangbata, has joined growing calls for a forensic audit into the controversial $30 million Salaga Road contract signed under the Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo administration.

In a strongly-worded statement made available to GhanaWeb, the former minister accused government institutions, particularly within the road sector, of deep-rooted negligence, mismanagement, and a culture of impunity that has cost the nation millions of dollars.

According to Kansangbata, the Salaga Road contract is a reflection of systemic corruption and a clear example of how the misuse of public funds undermines national development.

“How can a government mismanage state resources to the tune of $30 million without following proper procurement procedures or securing funding guarantees?

“This isn’t just poor governance it’s a betrayal of the public trust,”
Abu Kansangbata lamented, adding that this is “a broken and unaccountable system” within the Ministry of Roads and its agencies, where some contractors are allegedly paid twice for the same work.

He emphasised the urgent need for structural and radical reforms in governance, calling for strict sanctions on all public officials whether political appointees, civil servants, or technical advisors found culpable in the scandal.

His statement echoes the explosive revelation made by the current Minister of Roads and Highways, Governs Kwame Agbodza, during a live interview.

Agbodza described the $30 million contract as “shocking and unjustifiable,” stating that it lacked both technical justification and financial backing.

He also alleged that the deal was driven by “deliberate negligence and personal interest, not national priority.”

Agbodza minced no words in declaring that no amount of political lobbying, apologies, or backdoor negotiations would halt the government’s pursuit of justice.

“This is not just about poor planning; it’s about robbing the taxpayer under the guise of development. We are not here to play politics; we are here to protect public funds,” he said.

Civil Society Organisations have since thrown their support behind the call for a comprehensive audit of all road contracts signed between 2017 and 2024.

Many argue that the Salaga Road contract exposes a broader pattern of inflated and politically motivated deals that lacked engineering oversight and feasibility assessments.

Notably, the absence of basic infrastructure elements such as drainage systems in the project design have raised eyebrows among experts and watchdog groups.

While former Minister of Roads and Highways, Francis Asenso-Boakye, has defended the deal and accused the current administration of rather politicising infrastructure development, Kwame Agbodza has remained unfazed.

“The facts are clear. We must restore accountability to the road sector. This $30 million scandal will not be swept under the carpet,” he added.

Abu Kansangbata, for his part, has warned that failure to hold those responsible accountable would deepen public cynicism and weaken confidence in democratic governance.

“Those involved must be punished. This must be a turning point. Ghana deserves better,” he stated.

AE

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