Provide greater transparency on road, transport financing — Minority

The Minority in Parliament has called on the government to provide greater transparency regarding road and transport infrastructure financing.

It has also urged the government to accelerate the implementation of stalled transport projects and ensure that commitments made to the Ghanaian people are backed by clear implementation plans and budgetary support.

It said infrastructure development required long-term planning, stable financing and consistent implementation across successive administrations.

“The Minority on the Roads and Transport Committee remains committed to constructive oversight and will continue to engage stakeholders to ensure that Ghana’s transport sector develops in a manner that supports economic growth, job creation and national development,” the Ranking Member on Roads and Transport Committee of Parliament, Kennedy Nyarko Osei, said at a press conference in Accra. 

Pillar

He said the road and transport sector was a critical pillar of national development as it facilitates trade, connects communities, supports industrial activity and enables the movement of people and goods across the country.

For that reason, he said the sector required consistent policy direction, transparency in implementation and sustained financial commitment.

Mr Osei said 15 months into the current administration, however, serious concerns were emerging regarding implementation credibility, fiscal commitment and transparency in the management of major road and transport infrastructure projects.

On the “Big Push”, he said the programme was, in principle, a commendable initiative and if adequately resourced and efficiently implemented, the projects under the flagship programme of the NDC government had the potential to significantly improve connectivity and open up key economic corridors across the country.

Policy

He explained that the minority side was not opposed to the policy itself and that “our concern, however, lies with the process through which the initial 50 projects have been awarded, particularly given that these projects are expected to cost the taxpayer approximately GH¢50 billion, as indicated by the President in the 2026 State of the Nation Address.”

“In this regard, we strongly believe that the government must, as a matter of urgency, publish the full details of these contracts.

This should include the identities of the contractors, the specific scope of work assigned to each contractor, and the unit cost per kilometre. 

“This will give Ghanaians the opportunity to independently assess the policy and promote transparency in infrastructure delivery,” he said.