CUTS International, a research and public policy think tank, has called on government to increase funding for road maintenance in the upcoming 2026 Mid-Year Budget Review, citing widespread road damage caused by heavy rains across the country.
The organisation says roads, bridges and drainage systems have deteriorated significantly, with potholes widening into deep gullies in several communities, disrupting transport, increasing vehicle maintenance costs and slowing economic activity.
Speaking on the issue, the Director of the West Africa Regional Centre of CUTS International, Appiah Kusi Adomako, said the situation requires urgent intervention rather than delayed response.
“Every day, ordinary Ghanaians are paying the price for bad roads. They spend more time in traffic, pay more to fix their cars, use more fuel and face higher risks on the road. This is no longer about minor potholes. In many places, the roads are breaking down badly, and the government must respond with urgency,” he said.
CUTS noted that while road maintenance works are more effective during the dry season, the current level of deterioration means some sections require immediate emergency intervention to keep roads safe and usable.
The think tank warned that temporary patching of potholes alone is not a sustainable solution, explaining that poor drainage systems, weak road foundations and repeated flooding continue to damage repaired sections.
CUTS is therefore urging government to prioritise proper maintenance works, drainage improvements, bridge rehabilitation and stronger supervision of road projects.
While commending government’s “Big Push” agenda on road construction, CUTS cautioned against prioritising new infrastructure at the expense of existing roads that are deteriorating.
“As government pursues its Big Push in road construction, we must remember that a road network is only as strong as its weakest link. New roads are important, but existing roads must also be protected. We cannot build new roads with one hand and allow older roads to collapse with the other,” Mr. Adomako added.
CUTS emphasised that road maintenance is one of the most cost-effective ways of protecting public investment and reducing the long-term burden on road users.
The group acknowledged government allocations of about GH¢3.0 billion to the Ghana Road Maintenance Trust Fund in the 2026 Budget, compared to an estimated GH¢3.1 billion in 2025, but said the current damage caused by heavy rains requires additional funding in the Mid-Year Budget Review.
It argued that reliance on existing funding sources would not be sufficient to address the scale of damage recorded across the country.
“The Road Fund must be strong enough to do what it was created to do. If we do not put enough money into road maintenance today, the cost will not disappear. It will be paid by drivers, passengers, businesses, farmers, traders and families through higher transport costs, damaged vehicles, lost time and avoidable accidents,” Mr. Adomako said.
CUTS also urged government to resource Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to enable them to respond quickly to road and bridge failures within their jurisdictions.
It further called on the Ministry of Roads and Highways to address outstanding issues surrounding the suspended National Roads Authority Act, 2024 (Act 1118), arguing that the suspension weakens decentralised road management.
The organisation additionally renewed calls for the reintroduction of road tolls through a modern, technology-driven system, saying it remains a key sustainable source of funding for road maintenance.
It stressed that revenues from such a system must be transparently managed and directed into road maintenance, with visible improvements for road users.
CUTS said while Ghanaians do not expect perfect roads overnight, they expect urgent attention to unsafe roads, deep potholes and damaged bridges, adding that roads remain critical to economic and social activity.
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