Dr Mahamudu Bawumia
Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has sounded the alarm on Ghana’s road infrastructure crisis, revealing a staggering $12 billion shortfall in funding to clear the maintenance backlog and bring the country’s 94,203km network up to optimal levels.
According to him, the current funding levels, covering only 38% of the requirement, have led to dire consequences: deteriorating road conditions, increased maintenance costs, and missed economic opportunities.
Addressing the stakeholders in the road infrastructure provision system forum in Accra, Dr Bawumia challenged them to think boldly and innovatively to bridge the huge financing gap.
He emphasized the need to explore alternative funding models, such as Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs), to shift the burden of financing infrastructure development to the private sector and free up budgetary funds for investments in other sectors.
Dr Bawumia also stressed the importance of leveraging best practices and local dynamics to develop new funding schemes.
He expressed confidence that all stakeholders would come together to find sustainable solutions to Ghana’s infrastructure financing gap.
The Vice President’s call to action marked a turning point in Ghana’s quest for sustainable road infrastructure development.
Dr Bawumia’s challenge has set the stage for a collaborative effort to address Ghana’s road infrastructure crisis, as stakeholders from the public and private sectors must come together to explore alternative funding models, leverage best practices, and develop new funding schemes.
-BY Daniel Bampoe