Beyond the $500m: Ghana Must Maintain Its Infrastructure

Ghana's transport sector is set to receive a significant boost with the World Bank's approval of $500 million for infrastructure improvements. This funding, part of the Ghana Market Access and Connectivity Project, will target the rehabilitation of about 1,050 kilometers of feeder roads. The initiative is designed to enhance connectivity, stimulate agricultural productivity, lower transportation expenses, and bolster rural economies, addressing the heavy burden that deteriorating roads place on Ghana's economy and its citizens.

However, the World Bank's Division Head for Ghana, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, Dr. Robert Taliercio, cautioned that this investment should be viewed as a starting point rather than a complete solution. He highlighted that only 27% of Ghana's extensive road network is paved, with over half, particularly feeder roads, in fair to poor condition. The economic cost of this poor network is substantial, estimated at GH¢4.5 billion annually, a loss Ghana can ill afford as it works towards economic recovery.

Dr. Taliercio's warning about the cycle of degradation, where building roads without maintenance leads to rapid deterioration and higher future costs, underscores the need for a fundamental shift in how road infrastructure is financed, managed, and maintained. The proposed operationalization of the Road Maintenance Trust Fund is therefore critical, aiming to create a sustainable mechanism for timely road upkeep.

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Building roads without maintaining them simply accelerates the cycle of degradation that we are all trying to break.

Beyond roads, Ghana must also revitalize its rail network, which has seen a dramatic decline in operational lines. The proposed revival of freight-led rail services is a key area requiring attention. Furthermore, road safety and climate-resilient infrastructure must be integrated into the transport transformation strategy. While the government's "Big Push" infrastructure program, including major expressways and bridges, is welcomed, it needs to complement the World Bank's investment within a cohesive national transport plan.

Ultimately, increased infrastructure spending alone will not yield lasting benefits without concurrent reforms in maintenance financing, institutional coordination, and governance. Ghana's recent economic growth is encouraging, but ensuring these infrastructure investments translate into enduring progress hinges on a commitment to ongoing maintenance and strategic management.

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Increased infrastructure spending alone will not deliver lasting gains without reforms in maintenance financing, institutional co-ordination and governance.