The Minister for Roads and Highways, Governs Kwame Agbodza has called for innovative financing mechanisms and stronger private-sector participation to help Ghana bridge its growing transport infrastructure deficit.

He said traditional public financing alone could no longer provide the resources required to develop and maintain the country’s roads, bridges and other critical transport infrastructure.

Mr Agbodza made the call at the 2026 Transport Sector Review Conference held in Ho, the Volta Regional capital, on the theme: “Financing and Delivery of Resilient Transport Infrastructure and Services: A Big Push for Sustainable Economic Transformation”.

The conference brought together policymakers, development partners, private-sector representatives, transport unions, academia, technical experts and industry practitioners to deliberate on the future of Ghana’s transport sector.

The Roads Minister said the country needs to mobilise additional resources, improve expenditure efficiency, strengthen asset management and create an environment capable of attracting private capital into transport infrastructure development.

"The government would explore innovative and predictable financing mechanisms to ensure sustainable funding for infrastructure development and maintenance,” he said. 

According to the minister, transport infrastructure should no longer be viewed merely as roads, bridges, ports, airports and transit systems but as critical economic connections that enable people, businesses, farmers and communities to participate fully in the national economic development.

“This is why the government has placed the Big Push infrastructure programme at the centre of its development agenda,” he said.

Mr Agbodza explained that the Big Push programme, launched in September 2025, represented a major national investment initiative designed to address critical infrastructure gaps and support Ghana’s economic transformation.

He stressed that achieving the objectives of the programme would require effective financing, efficient project delivery and responsible management of the country’s infrastructure assets.

The Roads Minister also urged the Ghana Institution of Engineering and other technical professionals to explore simpler and more cost-effective designs for transport infrastructure without compromising quality, durability and safety.

"Engineering solutions should take into consideration Ghana’s financial realities while ensuring that infrastructure remained fit for purpose and capable of serving the needs of communities over the long term,” Mr Agbodza emphasised.

Mr. Agbodza further appealed to managers of major transport infrastructure to pay greater attention to safety and accessibility in the design and management of facilities.

He specifically called for clear emergency exit signage and appropriate lighting to assist travellers, particularly persons with visual impairments.

"Improving accessibility and safety should form an integral part of infrastructure planning rather than being treated as an afterthought,” he stated.

Mr Agbodza said stronger collaboration among government, technical institutions, private-sector players and other stakeholders would be essential to mobilising the resources and expertise required to transform Ghana’s transport infrastructure.