CUTS urges govt to increase road fund allocation
The Consumer Unity and Trust Society (CUTS) International has urged the government to increase funding for road maintenance in the 2026 Mid-Year Budget Review to address the extensive damage caused by this year’s heavy rains.
According to the policy think tank, deteriorating roads, bridges and drainage systems across the country are imposing significant costs on motorists, commuters and businesses, making urgent intervention necessary.
In a statement issued in Accra yesterday, CUTS indicated that many roads had worsened from simple potholes into deep gullies, which are slowing down traffic, damaging vehicles, increasing transport costs and posing serious safety risks to road users.
The Director of the West Africa Regional Centre of CUTS International, Mr Appiah Kusi Adomako, explained that road damage had become a daily burden for Ghanaians and required immediate attention.
He stated that ordinary Ghanaians were paying the price for poor road conditions, as they spent more time in traffic, incurred higher vehicle maintenance costs, used more fuel and faced increased risks on the road. He stressed that the situation had gone beyond minor potholes.
Mr Adomako further noted that although road maintenance works are more effective during the dry season, some roads currently require emergency repairs to ensure they remain safe and usable.
He explained that temporary patching of potholes would not provide a lasting solution, adding that poor drainage systems, weak road foundations and repeated flooding continue to undermine road infrastructure.
CUTS therefore called on the government to invest in comprehensive maintenance works, including improvements in drainage systems, rehabilitation of bridges and stronger supervision of road construction and maintenance projects.
The organisation also commended the government’s “Big Push” agenda aimed at expanding road infrastructure across the country, but cautioned against neglecting existing roads.
It emphasised that a sustainable transport network depends on both newly constructed and existing roads being properly maintained.
Mr Adomako stated that as the government pursued its road construction agenda, it was important to remember that a road network is only as strong as its weakest link, adding that while new roads are important, existing ones must also be protected.
CUTS further indicated that the current allocation to the Ghana Road Maintenance Trust Fund might not be sufficient to address the scale of damage caused by this year’s rains.
The statement noted that about GH¢3.0 billion had been allocated to the Fund in the 2026 Budget, compared with an estimated GH¢3.1 billion in 2025.
However, it maintained that additional resources would be required to carry out emergency repairs and preserve critical road infrastructure across the country.
The organisation also called for Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to be adequately resourced to undertake road and bridge repairs within their jurisdictions.
In addition, CUTS urged the Ministry of Roads and Highways to resolve issues surrounding the suspended National Roads Authority Act, 2024 (Act 1118), explaining that the continued suspension of the law weakens decentralised road management.
The think-tank further appealed to the government to fast-track the reintroduction of road tolls through a modern, technology-driven system to generate additional revenue for road maintenance.
CUTS stressed that improved road maintenance is essential to support economic activity, reduce transport costs and ensure the safety of all road users.
By Times Reporter
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