Gov’t allocates GH¢13.8bn for road projects

By Kizito CUDJOE

Government has committed GH¢13.8billion over the next two years to road infrastructure projects under its flagship ‘Big Push’ initiative, finance minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson told parliament during the 2025 Mid-Year Fiscal Policy Review presentation.

The amount, representing 1.0 percent of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP), is sourced from oil revenues and mineral royalties as outlined in the 2025 Budget and Economic Policy approved by parliament.

“All budgetary allocations under the Big Push for the next two years have been dedicated to improving road infrastructure,” Dr. Forson said, adding that the initiative is a key pillar of government’s broader infrastructure and economic transformation agenda.

The minister noted that the roads and highways ministry conducted a six-month nationwide assessment and has since completed engineering designs and cost estimates for the targetted projects.

Following this, he said, the Ministry of Finance has issued commitment authorisations for several roads across the country.

Some of the key projects include: construction of a new bridge over the Oti River at Dambai, rehabilitation of the Wa–Han road, upgrading the Tumu–Hamile and Tumu–Han–Lawra roads, reconstruction of the Navrongo–Tumu road, rehabilitation of the Techiman–Nkonsia–Wenchi and Wenchi–Sawla roads, construction of the Sunyani Outer Ring Road and Kumasi Outer Ring Road (Eastern Quadrant) and rehabilitation of the Gbintri–Nakpanduri road

“As part of the Big Push programme, we have also selected the following abandoned road projects, for which no dedicated funding was allocated by the previous administration,” the minister added.

This includes the rehabilitation and upgrading of Kasoa – Winneba Road, rehabilitation of Ofankor – Nsawam Road (Dual Carriageway), dualisation of Takoradi – Agona Junction Road and construction of the Suame Interchange and local roads.

Some of the others are construction of National Route N18, Wa – Han Road; upgrading the Tumu – Chuchuliga – Navrongo road including construction of a 36m span reinforced concrete bridge over Kanyibie River and 24m span reinforced concrete bridge over Bechelihu River, among others,

These investments, according to the minister, are part of efforts to open up economic corridors, improve connectivity and support long-term development.

The Big Push programme was first introduced to accelerate infrastructure development through strategic investments in roads, energy, water and health. This phase, however, focuses exclusively on roads.

However, no timeline was provided for project completion including contractor details or regional allocation breakdowns.

The Finance Minister also announced that government has also taken a decision to remodel the Ghana Road Fund and refocus it toward road maintenance.

“As part of this Mid-Year Review and on behalf of government, the Minister for Roads and Highways will be laying before this House a new Road Maintenance Trust Fund bill. When approved, the Road Maintenance Trust Fund will replace the Ghana Road Fund,” he stated.

The Road Maintenance Trust Fund, he explained, will among others provide for a new governance architecture, provide a formula for fairer allocation of resources and introduce more transparency in utilisation of the road fund levy and others.

“Government has identified 166 constituencies in dire need of road infrastructure. In response, we have programmed to rehabilitate 10km of roads annually in each of these constituencies. This translates to about 5,000km of roads to be reconstructed for these 166 constituencies in dire need of road infrastructure over the next 3 years,” he added.

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