As Ghana embarks on its ambitious US$2.2 billion Big Push Infrastructure Programme to pave new highways and bridges across the country, the World Bank is warning that the country should not lose sight of the impact of climate change on infrastructure.
The World Bank has revealed that unprecedented seasonal floods, landslides, and intensifying rainstorms are rapidly converting Ghana’s newly built roads into major financial liabilities
In its latest 10th Ghana Economic Update, the Bretton Woods Institution is advising the country to make a transformation pivot in its infrastructural agenda. According to the World Bank, Ghana must spend more money on climate-resilient roads today, or face devastating reconstruction bills tomorrow.
A Multi-Billion Dollar Washout
As the experts confirm, climate hazards are no longer just environmental concerns. They are direct economic shocks to Ghana’s public treasury. According to the World Bank’s modeling, direct flood-related damages to Ghana’s transport assets are projected to reach a staggering US$2.05 billion between 2020 and 2050
The physical toll of these disasters is unfolding in the country. It says that widespread flooding and landslides disrupt an estimated 117 kilometers of roads every single year. This leaves behind a trail of isolated rural communities cut off from schools, hospitals, and agricultural markets
It adds that the crisis is hitting Ghana’s unpaved rural feeder roads the hardest, as vital network already carries a massive maintenance backlog exceeding GHS 8 billion. As heavier seasonal rains beat down on these dirt and gravel paths, unpaved roads are washed out completely, triggering a costly cycle of repairs.
The Upfront Math: Spend 20% Now, Save 40% Later
To break this destructive cycle, the World Bank is urging Ghanaian policymakers to look beyond the initial price tag of infrastructure projects.
Using advanced data from the World Bank’s Country Climate and Development Report (CCDR), experts modeled the long-term financial performance of standard road designs versus climate-proofed ones.
The modeling revealed that while a climate-proofed road is 15 to 20 percent more expensive to build upfront, it yields 30 to 40 percent in total savings over a 20-year lifecycle compared to standard, vulnerable road designs.
This massive savings comes from the fact that climate-resilient roads are engineered to withstand severe weather, meaning they require far fewer emergency repairs, rehabilitations, and reconstructions over their lifespans.
In the words of the World Bank, choosing to build roads that can withstand climate shocks is the “fiscally dominant choice” since it is simply the cheapest option for the nation’s pocketbook.
The Danger of the “Cheap” Route
When public budgets are tight, it is tempting for governments to build cheaper, standard roads to cover more kilometers. However, the World Bank’s report warns that this approach is a dangerous path to tread.
Every time a standard road is destroyed by a storm, the government must redirect precious, scarce public money to fund emergency repairs. This emergency spending directly robs the country’s routine maintenance budget, meaning other existing roads are starved of basic care and left to rot.
“Every kilometer built under the Big Push without a sustainable maintenance plan is a contingent liability, not a durable asset,” the report warns, pointing out that deferred maintenance exponentially inflates future repair bills.
How Ghana Can Climate-Proof Its Future
To turn this advice into action, the 10th Ghana Economic Update outlines key policy recommendations.
Mandate Resilience by Design: The Ministry of Roads and Highways (MRH) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) must develop and mandate climate-proofed design standards for all new projects under the Big Push initiative.
Protect the 73,800 km of Unpaved Roads: Special attention must be paid to Ghana’s vast network of unpaved feeder roads, which are the lifeblood of rural farmers but are highly vulnerable to seasonal drowning.
Lock in Funding Legally: The government should link its newly enacted Road Maintenance Trust Fund (Act 1147) directly to climate resilience. By making funding eligibility conditional on whether a road has a “climate-proofed lifecycle plan,” Ghana can ensure its infrastructure actually survives the next storm.
As Ghana stands at an economic inflection point, the World Bank says continuing to build cheap, vulnerable roads is a luxury the country’s economy can no longer afford. By investing in climate-resilient roads, Ghana can safeguard its public funds, keep its communities connected, and lay down a truly durable foundation for long-term growth.
