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Parliament has approved GH¢5.3 billion for the Ministry of Roads and Highways for the 2026 fiscal year, marking a significant step in the government’s plan to boost the nation’s transportation infrastructure.
The approval aligns with broader infrastructural priorities under the Big Push Programme, a flagship initiative expected to transform road networks across the country. As part of the programme, an additional GH¢30 billion from oil revenues has been allocated to support nationwide road development.
The Big Push Programme, one of the central pillars of the government’s infrastructural agenda, is set to channel substantial resources into key road corridors, bridges, interchanges, and feeder road networks. Officials say the initiative will enhance mobility, improve connectivity between regions, and tackle long-standing transportation bottlenecks that have hampered productivity and economic growth.
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But despite the size of the allocation, the Minister for Roads and Highways, Governs Agbodza, has sounded the alarm over what he describes as a massive funding gap undermining the ministry’s ability to deliver on its mandate.
Speaking during the parliamentary debate on the Roads and Transport Committee’s report on the 2026 budget estimates, Mr Agbodza said the GH¢5.3 billion allocation, though one of the highest for the ministry in recent years, is far below what is required.
According to him, the ministry is currently supervising road projects valued at over GH¢110 billion, creating a stark contrast between budgetary support and existing commitments.
“I agree with my colleagues on the 5 billion, but the 5 billion allocated is not enough. Though it may sound like one of the biggest allocations, it is not enough at all,” he stressed.
The significant shortfall raises concerns about delays in ongoing road projects, cost overruns, and the ministry’s ability to initiate new works. Analysts have warned that without adequate financing, the government may struggle to maintain progress in critical areas such as:
- Completion of interchanges and highways
- Rehabilitation of deteriorating roads
- Expansion of rural and feeder road networks
- Maintenance of ageing infrastructure
Stakeholders in the construction and transportation sectors continue to push for more sustainable funding options, including:
- Strengthening road fund collections
- Exploring public–private partnerships (PPPs)
- Enhancing value-for-money auditing to reduce wastage
- Leveraging multilateral financing for large-scale road corridors
With the Big Push Programme promising major infrastructural transformation, expectations among road users and contractors remain high. However, the minister’s warning underscores a persistent challenge: bridging the vast gap between ambitious infrastructure plans and the financial resources required to execute them.
As Parliament finalises the broader 2026 budget framework, attention will remain fixed on how the government intends to close the funding deficit and ensure steady progress on the country’s most critical road networks.
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