The Executive Representative of the Ghana Institution of Engineering (GhIE), Ing. Yaa Obenewaa Okudzeto, has called for stronger coordination and a more integrated approach to infrastructure development, stressing that Ghana’s transport and road systems remain central to national development challenges.
Speaking at the Citi Business Festival Roundtable Discussion held on Monday, June 15, on the theme “Building Competitive Cities: Infrastructure, Innovation and Investment for Sustainable Economic Growth,” she highlighted the need to rethink how infrastructure is planned and executed across sectors.
According to her, Ghana’s infrastructure challenges are not only about financing or lack of plans, but also about weak coordination between agencies.
She explained that roads, rail, and utilities are deeply interconnected, warning that failure to properly integrate these systems continues to undermine infrastructure delivery and urban development.
Ing. Okudzeto drew parallels with the construction of the Elizabeth Line in the United Kingdom, noting that engineers had to undertake deep tunnelling works beneath historic buildings and existing railway infrastructure, while relying on real-time monitoring systems to ensure structural integrity throughout the project.
She used the example to illustrate how advanced coordination, planning, and engineering innovation can allow complex infrastructure to be delivered safely even in densely built urban environments.
She further pointed to challenges in right-of-way management and coordination between road agencies and utility providers in Ghana, noting that these gaps often result in disruptions such as fibre cuts and project delays.
“I sit on the National Engineering Coordinating Team and one of the biggest challenges we have is how we are addressing our right-of-way and our road sector in connection with our utilities.
“Last week I reached out to the Chamber of Telecommunication, asking them what their issues were in terms of fibre cuts and the list, if we have to go through it, we will sit on this panel forever, but most of times we have issues that are bordering on utility agencies and the road sector, not really talking with each other,” she said
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