Ghana's Economy Growth Hinges on Infrastructure Development

Ghana's economy demonstrated resilience with a 6 per cent growth rate in 2025, yet the majority of its workforce remains in informal or low-skilled sectors. According to the World Bank, only 13 per cent of workers aged 15 to 64 held formal wage or high-skilled jobs in 2023, a decline from 15 per cent in 2012. This disparity highlights the need for improved infrastructure to facilitate job creation and economic productivity.

The country's infrastructure challenges were underscored by a recent 12-hour journey from Nkroful to Kumasi, a 266-kilometre route that passes through crucial mining towns. In contrast, the journey from Abidjan to Yamoussoukro over a similar distance takes only three hours. These travel times have significant implications for producers who rely on roads to transport goods to market, with a substantial portion of the working day lost to travel.

Public ownership of essential infrastructure, such as roads and electricity networks, plays a critical role in enhancing productivity and welfare. These assets serve households and businesses across entire regions, including areas where commercial returns may be too low to justify private investment. The government must define the public benefits of these assets, fund them transparently, and provide Parliament and citizens with the necessary information to hold operators accountable.

The proposed 1,200-megawatt state-owned thermal plant, as outlined in the 2026 Budget, requires careful consideration. Before committing public funds, the government should evaluate the lifetime cost and expected reliability of the plant, comparing it with the rehabilitation of existing plants and procurement of power from other sources. Additionally, any guarantees that taxpayers may have to honour should be disclosed.

The Constitution Review Committee proposed amendments to Chapter 14 to grant the State Interests and Governance Authority (SIGA) constitutional status, ensuring its independence and accountability to Parliament. However, the government rejected this proposal in its July 2026 position paper, arguing that Parliament already has the power to establish and regulate such bodies. The government instead favoured legislation to update appointment procedures, governance standards, and directors' duties as needed.

To improve governance, SIGA should publish an enterprise-by-enterprise record of missed deadlines, verified results, and corrective action. Parliament should hold boards accountable for repeated failures, including the impact on the people who rely on their services. Furthermore, the government should prioritise repairs and completion of works on major highways, publishing journey times and their variability to address road bottlenecks that hinder production.

To ensure fair and efficient use of infrastructure, Ghana should implement a system where heavy freight pays its share. This can be achieved by calculating the cost of routine maintenance and resurfacing, then setting heavy-vehicle tolls by axle class and corridor use. The government should publish the tariffs, collection costs, the state's share, and how much maintenance the proceeds will fund to ensure transparency and accountability.

Key points

• Only 13% of Ghana's workers have formal wage or high-skilled jobs.
• Improved infrastructure is crucial for enhancing productivity and welfare.
• The government must prioritise transparency and accountability in its infrastructure development and governance.