Ghana’s Bold Road Reforms Target Poor-Quality Bitumen in Major Projects

No more shortcuts: Ghana’s crackdown on substandard bitumen could transform its roads. Will these reforms finally end decades of shoddy construction?

, and Administrator

2025 December 10 . 9:18 PM

1 min read

The picture is taken on the street of a city. In the center of the picture there are shops, tents,... — The picture is taken on the street of a city. In the center of the picture there are shops, tents, umbrellas, auto rickshaw, motor bike, people and many other objects. In the background there are buildings. In the foreground there are waste papers on the road.

Ghana’s Bold Road Reforms Target Poor-Quality Bitumen in Major Projects

Ghana’s Ministry of Roads and Highways has rolled out new reforms to crack down on substandard bitumen in road construction. The measures come as part of the government’s ‘Big Push’ projects, which demand higher material standards. Minister Kwame Governs Agbodza has made it clear that only top-quality bitumen will be used moving forward.

The reforms introduce stricter regulations, a licensing system for suppliers, and updated technical requirements. Every batch of bitumen must now be fully traceable, from its source to the construction site. This move aims to eliminate poor-quality materials that have plagued past projects.

The new rules require full traceability and stricter quality checks for all bitumen used in public projects. Contractors and suppliers must now meet higher standards to participate in the ‘Big Push’ initiatives. The reforms are expected to raise construction quality and bring Ghana’s road sector in line with international benchmarks.