The Ministry of Roads and Highways has assured the public that the ongoing strike by Ghana Highway Authority (GHA) workers will not disrupt any ongoing road projects nationwide.
Ahmed Nasir Yartey, the Ministry’s Public Relations Officer, provided these reassurances during an interview on the Citi Breakfast Show with Bernard Avle on Tuesday, November 12.
Yartey acknowledged that while the strike might cause concern, the Ministry has put measures in place to ensure that projects proceed smoothly.
Yartey explained that most government-funded road projects are managed by independent contractors who operate under binding contracts and are supervised by external consultants.
This structure, he noted, creates a buffer against potential disruptions from GHA staff strikes, as the day-to-day project activities are carried out by private contractors rather than GHA personnel.
He further emphasized that the Ministry is committed to meeting project timelines and maintaining progress on infrastructure development, reassuring the public that measures are in place to prevent any delays.
“I want to assure you that all ongoing road projects will go on uninterrupted and the Ministry doesn’t expect to see any road project halting. These are road projects that are being undertaken by contractors and in most cases, supervised by consultants and they are under strict contracts so we don’t expect any road project to halt.”
However, Mr Yartey did acknowledge the concerns of the striking workers and made an appeal for dialogue and peaceful engagement.
He noted that it is in the best interests of both the Ministry and the GHA employees to resolve the issues amicably and through constructive conversations.
He expressed confidence in the process recommended by the Labour Commission and emphasised that dialogue could help to address the grievances of the workers without negatively affecting the larger infrastructure goals of the Ministry.
“I want to appeal with the union that we are one family and so they should let us continue with our consultation and engagement so that at the end of the day, we can all find an amicable solution as was stated by the Labour Commission.”
The GHA workers’ strike is a direct response to the government’s refusal to halt the implementation of the controversial National Roads Authority Act, 2024 (Act 1118).
At the heart of the dispute is a demand for the removal of two key officials: Ing. I.K. Mensah, the Chairman of the Ghana Highway Authority (GHA) Board, and Ing. Collins B. Donkor, the Chief Executive Officer of the NRA.
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