Ghana’s road network is set to undergo a major upgrade, with Parliament recently approving a significant budget of GHS 2.8 billion for road maintenance works in 2024.
This allocation aims to improve road conditions, reduce congestion, and facilitate smoother transportation, which is expected to positively impact economic activities across the country.
In 2024, approximately 43% of Ghana’s roads received some form of maintenance, which included reshaping, gravelling, and pothole patching. This effort marks a significant step toward revamping the nation’s road infrastructure.
Isaac Adjei Mensah, the Chairman of the Roads and Transport Committee, explained that the road network had been severely neglected, and these maintenance works were essential for improving the overall quality of transportation in Ghana.
During a media briefing at Parliament House in Accra, Mensah also pointed out the heavy financial burden inherited by the current government, noting that the country’s road sector debt stands at GHS 105 billion.
Additionally, the government faces an outstanding commitment of GHS 109 billion owed to contractors for both ongoing and stalled road projects.
These figures underscore the scale of the challenge the government faces in addressing the country’s infrastructural needs.
To ensure sustained funding for ongoing and future road projects, the government is looking to reintroduce road tolls, utilizing digital technology to improve revenue collection.
This system is expected to streamline toll payments and increase efficiency in the collection process, providing a reliable revenue stream to support road development.
Furthermore, Mensah expressed optimism about the government’s US$10 billion “Big Push” infrastructure program, which aims to further accelerate the development of the nation’s roads and other critical infrastructure.
This program is designed to tackle the country’s infrastructure deficit and is expected to contribute significantly to the country’s long-term economic growth.
Meanwhile, Parliament also passed the Appropriation Bill, granting the Finance Minister the authority to allocate public funds for key government initiatives.
With this approval, funds from the Consolidated Fund and other sources can now be directed toward priority projects, including road development.
This marks an important step toward addressing the country’s infrastructure needs and ensuring that Ghana’s road network is improved to meet the demands of its growing population.
