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…
The World Bank has expressed concern that Ghana's fiscal surplus has primarily been attained through spending cuts, with capital expenditure falling 38% short of the approved budget. Robert R. Taliercio, the World Bank Division Director for Ghana, Liberia and Sierra Leone, made these remarks during the launch of the World Bank's Tenth Ghana Economic Update in Accra.
Taliercio warned that while the fiscal surplus achieved through expenditure compression is an improvement, it is not a sustainable strategy. He emphasized that Ghana's fiscal consolidation should not rely heavily on capital spending reductions, as these are crucial for infrastructure development and long-term economic growth. The World Bank official argued that while expenditure restraint offers short-term fiscal relief, prolonged underinvestment in capital projects could weaken the economy's productive capacity and hinder growth prospects over time.
The World Bank is advocating for reforms that balance fiscal discipline with the protection of priority investments and essential public services. This comes as Ghana continues to pursue measures to restore macroeconomic stability, strengthen public finances, and reduce debt vulnerabilities. The World Bank stressed that enhanced domestic revenue mobilization and improved expenditure management are essential for creating fiscal space for development.
Taliercio's comments underscore the dilemma facing the government: sustaining the recent improvement in Ghana's fiscal position while preventing spending cuts from compromising investments vital for productivity, infrastructure, competitiveness, and job creation. The Tenth Ghana Economic Update evaluates the country's recent economic performance and outlines policy measures the World Bank believes are necessary to sustain the recovery and foster stronger, more inclusive growth.
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