They connect markets, link communities, facilitate trade, enable emergency services, and drive social development. Yet, in Ghana, our road infrastructure continues to deteriorate at an alarming rate. From urban centres to rural communities, the story is the same bumpy, dusty, flooded, and in some cases, life-threatening roads. The time has come for us as a nation to rise above partisan politics and collectively chart a clear and sustainable direction for fixing our roads.
The blame game has lasted far too long. Each successive government inherits bad roads and points fingers at its predecessors. Meanwhile, the ordinary Ghanaian, whether in Tamale, Ashaiman, Wa, or Agona Swedru, continues to suffer the consequences of inaction. Our taxis break down, ambulances get stuck, and school children walk miles through treacherous paths, all because of our inability to see road development as a national priority rather than a political weapon.
New
Indeed, a road does not magically become new, smooth, or motorable simply because one mentions a political party. A bad road remains a bad road, regardless of whether it is under the watch of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), the National Democratic Congress (NDC), or any other party. It is therefore problematic to politicise road construction or use it as a tool for political point scoring. Ghana’s roads should be everybody’s concern.
Let’s be frank, some of the roads in this country defy even the word “pothole.” They resemble mass burial graveyards, with craters so deep that drivers have no choice but to meander dangerously through them, risking their lives and damaging their vehicles. These roads are a daily nightmare for commuters and a death trap in waiting. What is even more heartbreaking is that, in many areas, these roads have remained in this deplorable state for years with no proper attention given. If we continue to treat such dire conditions with indifference, we mortgage our present comfort and the future of the next generation.
Roads
Fixing our roads must be intentional, not accidental. It must be guided by a long-term national vision, one that sees beyond political cycles and partisan gains. We need to depoliticise road construction, planning, and maintenance. The Ministry of Roads and Highways, together with the relevant agencies, must be empowered and resourced to work based on technical needs, strategic importance, and fairness to all regions, not on the basis of electoral maps.
Citizens also have a role to play. We must hold our leaders accountable not by chanting political slogans but by demanding timelines, transparency, and tangible outcomes. Media houses, civil society organisations, and traditional authorities must rise above political affiliations and amplify the voices of communities suffering due to poor roads. Let us create a united advocacy that puts pressure on both the ruling and opposition parties to work together in fixing our roads.
Additionally, we must explore innovative funding mechanisms and public-private partnerships to complement government efforts. Relying solely on the central government to fix all our roads is unrealistic. District Assemblies, corporate entities, and development partners must be brought on board in a coordinated and transparent way to deliver quality road infrastructure.
To this end, Ghana has a lot to do in terms of roads, and we must start now. The road to progress must not be riddled with blame but paved with collaboration, purpose, and vision. Whether you are in power or in opposition, the road you drive on affects you. Let us bury the politics, end the blame game, and collectively fix Ghana’s roads for our own good and for generations yet unborn.
The Writer works with the Department of Policy Planning, Budgeting, Research, Monitoring and Evaluation (PPBRME) at the National Service Authority (NSA)
