As the government, through the Minister for Roads and Highways, Governs Kwame Agbodza, has announced plans for an ambitious construction of new road projects, the West African Regional Director of CUTS International believes it makes more economic sense to rehabilitate existing ones first before new ones.
The economist and lawyer, Adomako Appiah Kusi, is warning that neglecting existing roads could prove costlier in the long run. He is therefore urging the government to prioritize the rehabilitation and maintenance of old roads, stressing that it is far more cost-effective than new construction.
Speaking to The High Street Journal on the back of the deplorable state of the Pokuase–Nsawam road, he noted that many roads across the country have deteriorated further under heavy rains, leaving commuters stranded, vehicles damaged, and productivity lost.
For him, leaving the already deplorable roads to construct new ones is a smack on the effective allocation of the country’s scarce resources.
“Whilst the government is committing funds for the construction of new roads, it must not forget that many existing roads across the country have deteriorated further due to heavy rains. It is always more cost-effective to maintain and rehabilitate roads than to construct new ones,” he told The High Street Journal.
He called on the Department of Urban Roads, the Department of Feeder Roads, and the Ghana Highway Authority to allocate sufficient attention and resources to regular road maintenance, arguing that preventive rehabilitation saves taxpayers’ money and sustains road networks longer.
Appiah Kusi Adomako urged that, “I hope the Department of Urban Roads, the Department of Feeder Roads, and the Ghana Highway Authority allocate sufficient attention and resources toward regular road maintenance.”
Road users and transport operators have also voiced frustration over frequent breakdowns and rising repair costs caused by poor roads.
The consumer protection advocate warns that if rehabilitation is not prioritized, Ghana risks pouring resources into new road projects while older critical routes crumble, undermining both economic efficiency and public safety.
Before cutting sods for new roads, the CUTS International boss says the government must first patch the potholes threatening livelihoods and productivity on existing roads.
