Only 27% of Ghana’s 94,200km road network is paved – World Bank
Only 27% of Ghana’s 94,200-kilometre road network is paved, while more than half of the country’s roads are in fair-to-poor condition, the World Bank has disclosed. The Bank says the state of the road network remains a major constraint to Ghana’s economic growth, competitiveness and job creation, particularly in rural areas where feeder roads connect communities and agricultural producers to…
Ghana's road network, spanning 94,200 kilometres, comprises only 27% paved roads, according to the World Bank's latest assessment. The state of the road network poses a significant challenge to Ghana's economic growth, competitiveness, and job creation, particularly in rural areas where feeder roads link communities and farmers to markets.
Robert R. Taliercio, World Bank Division Director for Ghana, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, highlighted this issue during the launch of the World Bank's Tenth Ghana Economic Update in Accra. He emphasized that improving transport infrastructure is not just about roads, but about fostering economic growth, competitiveness, and job creation.
The poor condition of the roads is exacerbated by inadequate maintenance financing and unclear institutional responsibilities. The World Bank has proposed six priority areas for transforming Ghana's transport sector, including the establishment of a Road Maintenance Trust Fund and the development of a unified national transport strategy.
The Bank also advocates for upgrading freight-led rail services and implementing climate-resilient infrastructure. Through the $500 million Ghana Market Access and Connectivity Project, the World Bank aims to rehabilitate 1,050 kilometres of feeder roads, focusing on regions where poor road connectivity limits agricultural productivity, market access, and rural livelihoods.
However, the Bank stresses that increased investment in roads must be coupled with effective maintenance and improved institutional coordination. Mr Taliercio stressed that building roads without proper maintenance only perpetuates the cycle of deterioration.
Written by urgent.news from Joy Business's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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