CUTS International has called on government to increase funding for road maintenance in the 2026 Mid-Year Budget Review, following damage to roads, bridges and drains caused by heavy rains this year.
In a press release, the policy think tank warned that road conditions across the country have deteriorated significantly, with potholes in several areas developing into deep gullies, disrupting traffic flow and increasing transport costs for commuters and businesses.
According to CUTS, the situation has become a daily burden for road users, increasing travel time, fuel consumption, vehicle repair costs and overall transport fares.
“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,” said Appiah Kusi Adomako, Director of the West Africa Regional Centre of CUTS International in Accra.
He stressed that while routine maintenance is most effective in the dry season, the scale of current damage requires urgent emergency interventions.
CUTS warned that temporary patching of potholes has proven ineffective, arguing that recurring failures are linked to poor drainage systems, weak road foundations and flooding, which continue to damage already-repaired sections.
The organisation said government must therefore prioritise comprehensive maintenance works, including drainage rehabilitation, bridge repairs and stronger supervision of road projects.
Big Push must not sideline existing roads
While commending government’s “Big Push” infrastructure agenda, CUTS cautioned that focus on new road construction must not come at the expense of maintaining existing road networks.
It argued that sustainable transport systems depend on both new and old infrastructure, warning that neglecting existing roads would increase long-term maintenance costs and weaken the national road network.
“As government pursues its Big Push in road construction, we must remember that a road network is only as strong as its weakest link,” Mr Adomako said. “We cannot build new roads with one hand and allow older roads to collapse with the other.”
Call for stronger Road Fund support
CUTS noted that the Road Fund received about GH¢3.0 billion in the 2026 Budget, compared to an estimated GH¢3.1 billion in 2025, but said additional support is needed in the Mid-Year Budget to address the extent of damage caused by the rains.
It said the current funding envelope is insufficient to deal with the scale of deterioration affecting roads, drains and bridges nationwide.
“The Road Fund must be strong enough to do what it was created to do,” Mr Adomako said. “If we do not put enough money into road maintenance today, the cost will be paid by drivers, passengers, businesses, farmers, traders and families through higher transport costs, damaged vehicles and avoidable accidents.”
Push for decentralised repairs and toll reforms
The organisation also urged government to resource Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to enable faster responses to local road and bridge failures.
It further called on the Ministry of Roads and Highways to resolve outstanding issues surrounding the suspended National Roads Authority Act, 2024 (Act 1118), warning that delays are weakening decentralised road management.
CUTS additionally renewed its call for the reintroduction of road tolls through a modern, technology-driven system, arguing that toll revenues remain a critical and sustainable source of funding for road maintenance.
It said a transparent digital tolling system would improve accountability and ensure revenues are directly channelled into maintaining road infrastructure.
CUTS stressed that while Ghanaians may not expect perfect roads, they expect safe and motorable ones, warning that continued deterioration would deepen economic pressures on households and businesses.
The organisation urged government to use the Mid-Year Budget Review to demonstrate stronger commitment to protecting road infrastructure and easing the burden on users.
Source:www.lovinnews.com