Ghana’s road network has seen major improvements since the early 2000s, a period many refer to as the country’s “golden age” of development. The government invested heavily in large road projects such as the Accra–Kumasi Highway dualisation, the George Walker Bush Highway (N1), and regional links like the Bole–Bamboi road.

These projects cut travel times, improved the flow of goods and people, and connected previously hard-to-reach communities to markets, healthcare, and other essential services.

Urban projects such as the Tetteh Quarshie and Asafo interchanges also helped reduce congestion and improve safety. Even with these gains, the long-term durability of these roads remained a challenge due to limited maintenance, axle-load abuse, and poor drainage.

The upcoming Big Push agenda, planned from 2025 to 2028, aims to build on what was started two decades ago.

As noted by Thomas Ampem Nyarko, the government is preparing to invest GH¢13.9 billion in 2025, rising to GH¢21.2 billion by 2028. This funding, mainly from petroleum revenues under the ABFA and mineral royalties, will target roads, energy, digital systems, and both urban and rural infrastructure.

Early works on the Ofankor–Nsawam stretch already signal a renewed focus on strengthening urban roads to reduce pressure on major highways.

However, sustainability will still be the biggest challenge, largely because the same issues that caused premature road failures in past decades continue to persist.

Urban roads need proper maintenance, and Ghana must begin separating heavy-duty truck routes from regular roads, as is common in developed countries. Overloaded trucks remain one of the biggest threats to pavement life, so enforcing axle-load limits is crucial.

Tools such as weigh-in-motion sensors and fixed weighbridges can help monitor truck loads in real time and provide reliable data for better road design.

In mining and freight-heavy areas, proper axle-load management alone can extend the lifespan of pavements by 40 to 60 per cent.

Sustainable road performance also depends on how well the road foundation is built and protected. Stabilising weak soils with lime, cement, fly ash, or geogrids increases strength and reduces deformation.

Effective drainage—side drains, culverts, underground drains, and well-sealed shoulders—is especially important in Ghana’s tropical climate, where moisture is the leading cause of early road failure.

Roads supported by strong subgrades and proper drainage stand a chance of lasting decades rather than collapsing after a few rainy seasons.

Ghana’s journey from the infrastructure advancements of the 2000–2008 golden age to the ambitious Big Push agenda reflects both progress and persistent challenges.

Ensuring sustainability through proper engineering, enforcement, and maintenance will determine whether these new investments deliver long-lasting benefits for transportation, trade, agriculture, and national growth.