• Ghana approves 5.3 billion cedis ($460 million) for the ministry of roads in 2026

• Funding to improve major, regional and rural roads and create 500,000 jobs

• Part of broader “Big Push” plan to close infrastructure gaps and boost growth

Ghana’s parliament has approved 5.3 billion cedis ($460 million) for the Ministry of Roads and Highways in the 2026 national budget, the Ghana News Agency reported on Tuesday.

The allocation is intended to support nationwide road improvements, which officials say will boost economic activity and make travel easier for citizens.

Isaac Adjei Mensah, chairman of the parliamentary committee on roads and transport, told lawmakers that ongoing and planned road projects could generate about 500,000 direct and indirect jobs. He added that 137 vacancies across four agencies under the ministry are expected to be filled during the fiscal year.

In September, the government said it had set aside 13.9 billion cedis in 2025 for priority infrastructure under its “Big Push” initiative, which aims to reduce the country’s infrastructure deficit and support long-term growth. The figure is projected to increase to 21.2 billion cedis by 2028.

The new funds will be used to build and upgrade major, regional and rural roads, as well as to develop strategic cross-border corridors. Road transport carries more than 90 percent of Ghana’s freight and passenger traffic.

The government said Ghana scored 47 out of 100 on the Global Infrastructure Hub index, a rating it described as low.

Lydie Mobio