The Minister for Roads and Highways, Governs Kwame Agbodza, has warned that the government may refer two quantity surveyors to the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) over alleged attempts to inflate compensation claims for properties affected by road projects.

Mr Agbodza said some surveyors were allegedly encouraging affected property owners to reject valuations conducted by authorised government agencies, with promises of securing compensation amounts several times higher than the original assessments.

He said the practice was not only increasing the financial burden on the state but also contributing to delays in the execution of critical road projects. According to him, some affected persons are being persuaded to challenge government valuations and, in some cases, seek court injunctions to halt ongoing works.

The Minister was speaking during an inspection of asphalt works on a two-kilometre access road linking Feyiase to the Sewua Regional Hospital in the Ashanti Region. The project is being executed by Kofi Job Construction Limited.

“We are looking at the possibility of reporting two of those people to EOCO for investigation,” Mr Agbodza said. He warned that surveyors who allegedly advise affected persons to reject official valuations in anticipation of securing significantly higher compensation could soon face investigations.

He urged residents whose properties are affected by road projects to rely on valuations conducted by authorised government agencies rather than engage external surveyors to renegotiate compensation.

Mr Agbodza alleged that some individuals approach property owners after government assessments have been completed and persuade them to reject the amounts offered, promising to secure four, five or even six times more in compensation.

He said such practices could undermine the timely delivery of road projects and increase project costs, stressing the need for affected persons to follow the appropriate processes in resolving compensation concerns.