The former Chairman of the Roads and Transport Committee, Kennedy Osei Nyarko, has called on the Minister of Roads and Highways to appear before Parliament regarding the suspension of the National Roads Authority Act (Act 1118).
According to him, it is unlawful to halt the implementation of an Act without parliamentary approval. He underscored that if the Minister has concerns about the Act, the appropriate procedure would be to present them before Parliament rather than issuing a press statement.
The National Roads Authority Act was passed during the eighth Parliament to establish the National Road Authority as an autonomous body responsible for planning, developing, maintaining, and managing the country’s national road network. The Act also aimed to consolidate existing road agencies—namely, the Ghana Highway Authority, the Department of Urban Roads, and the Department of Feeder Roads—into a single entity for better coordination and efficiency.
Explaining the rationale behind the Act, Mr. Osei Nyarko highlighted the need to optimize limited resources within the road sector. He argued that duplication of efforts among the different road agencies had led to delays in project execution and inadequate maintenance, thereby justifying the consolidation under the new Act.
He further stated that if workers are concerned about the potential impact of the Act on their employment, they have the legal right to petition Parliament or seek redress in court rather than opposing its implementation.
Earlier this week, the Ministry of Roads and Highways issued a press statement announcing the suspension of Act 1118, citing the government’s commitment to addressing concerns raised by key stakeholders.
However, former Deputy Minister of Roads, Hassan Tampuli, criticized the Ministry’s decision, arguing that it lacks legal merit and governance sustainability. He warned that allowing ministers to unilaterally suspend laws could set a dangerous precedent and lead to disorder within the roads sector. He further emphasized that the Act was designed to address inefficiencies and should not be arbitrarily halted.
In response, Roads Minister Kwame Agbodza defended the suspension, stating that the Act had created significant unrest among the affected agencies—feeder roads, urban roads, and highways. He explained that after engaging with these agencies, the Ministry decided to suspend implementation and conduct further consultations.
Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin has since urged the Ministry to follow due process by bringing the Act back to Parliament for review.
By Eugene Davis
