CUTS International, a research, advocacy and capacity-building policy think tank, has called on the government to increase funding for road maintenance in the upcoming Mid-Year Budget Review, citing widespread damage to roads, bridges and drainage systems caused by this year’s heavy rains.
It said deteriorating road conditions across the country were imposing high costs on commuters, motorists, businesses and transport operators through longer travel times, vehicle damage, higher fuel consumption and increased transport fares.
Many roads that previously had minor potholes have now developed into deep gullies, making sections of the road network unsafe and difficult to use, the policy think tank said.
CUTS said some roads required immediate emergency repairs despite the challenges of undertaking maintenance works during the rainy season.
The organisation urged the government to prioritise road maintenance alongside new road construction projects, arguing that protecting existing road assets was essential to preserving public investment and maintaining an efficient transport system.
A release issued and signed by the Director of the West Africa Regional Centre of CUTS International, Accra, Appiah Kusi Adomako, said the worsening condition of roads had become a daily burden for ordinary Ghanaians and required urgent government intervention.
Existing roads
While commending the government’s Big Push agenda aimed at expanding road infrastructure, CUTS cautioned against neglecting existing roads in favour of new construction projects.
The organisation said a strong transport system depended on both newly built and existing roads, cautioning that allowing older roads to deteriorate would increase future maintenance costs and undermine the benefits of new investments.
They welcomed allocations made to the Ghana Road Maintenance Trust Fund in recent budgets but maintained that additional resources were needed to address the extensive damage caused by this year’s rains.
The think tank said beyond routine wear and tear, heavy rainfall had damaged roads, drains, bridges and other road infrastructure, placing additional pressure on available maintenance funds.
Support
The organisation also called for metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies (MMDAs) to be adequately resourced to undertake road and bridge repairs in their jurisdictions.
It further urged the Ministry of Roads and Highways to resolve outstanding issues surrounding the suspended National Roads Authority Act, 2024 (Act 1118), saying the delay was affecting decentralised road management and slowing institutional response to road failures.
CUTS also advocated the reintroduction of road tolls through a modern technology-driven system to generate additional revenue for road maintenance.
The organisation said road tolls had historically been an important source of funding for road upkeep and that revenue generated under a transparent system should be directed towards maintenance works to improve road conditions in the country.
