The government has outlined measures to prevent Ghana’s US$10 billion Big Push road infrastructure programme from creating significant maintenance liabilities in the future.
The Minister for Roads and Highways, Kwame Governs Agbodza, said the government is prioritising sustainable maintenance systems to protect the roads and bridges being constructed under the ambitious programme.
His comments follow a caution from the World Bank that Ghana’s large-scale road investment could result in substantial future financial liabilities if adequate and sustainable maintenance mechanisms are not established.
In a social media post, Mr. Agbodza said the Ministry of Roads and Highways was working to ensure that newly constructed roads and bridges were properly maintained to safeguard the public investments being made in the sector.
He said a key component of the government’s strategy was the full operationalisation of the Road Maintenance Trust Fund, established under the Road Maintenance Trust Fund Act, 2025 (Act 1147).
According to the Minister, the Ministry, in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance, will work to improve the collection and equitable allocation of Road User Charges while strengthening transparency and accountability in the management of funds earmarked for road maintenance.
Mr. Agbodza also disclosed plans to reintroduce electronic road and bridge tolling as part of efforts to expand the revenue base of the Road Fund and generate additional resources for road maintenance.
He further announced that all completed road and bridge projects under the Big Push programme would be placed on performance-based maintenance contracts, with dedicated funding provided through the Road Fund.
The Minister said the measures formed part of a broader effort to transform Ghana’s approach to managing road infrastructure and ensure that newly constructed assets are preserved over the long term.
“These measures will shift the country from a ‘build–deteriorate–rehabilitate’ cycle to a ‘build–maintain–preserve’ approach,” Mr. Agbodza stated.
