Ghana’s infrastructure development continues to face major challenges in the roads, health and railway sectors, with all three areas receiving the lowest scores in the Ghana Infrastructure Report Card 2026.
The report, produced by the Ghana Institution of Engineers (GhIE), rated roads, healthcare and railway infrastructure at 50 per cent each, placing them in Grade E, as concerns persist over inadequate funding, maintenance gaps and growing demand on public facilities.
The assessment showed that while some sectors recorded improvements, infrastructure delivery across the country remains constrained by limited investment and weak maintenance systems.
The aviation sector emerged as the best-performing area, scoring 71 per cent (Grade C3), while electricity infrastructure recorded marginal progress but remained within Grade D.
The 2026 report assessed eight major sectors, including education, electricity, roads and bridges, railway, telecommunications, potable water, health and aviation.
It was based on responses from 900 participants, with findings compared against the first Infrastructure Report Card released in 2016.
Speaking at the launch in Accra, Deputy Minister for Works, Housing and Water Resources, Madam Gizella Tetteh-Agbotui, said infrastructure development must now focus beyond physical construction and prioritise resilience, sustainability and the ability to withstand emerging challenges.
She said climate change, rapid urbanisation and population growth required a new approach to planning and managing national infrastructure.
“Today, infrastructure can no longer be judged merely by its physical condition or capacity. It must also be evaluated by its ability to withstand shocks, recover quickly from disasters, adapt to changing environmental conditions and continue providing essential services to citizens,” she said.
Madam Tetteh-Agbotui called for greater use of technology, research and sustainable construction methods to improve infrastructure planning and delivery.
She stressed that infrastructure development was a shared responsibility requiring collaboration between government, professional bodies, academia, the private sector and development partners.
President of GhIE, Mr Luwig Annang Hesse, said urgent reforms were needed to improve the quality and sustainability of public infrastructure, particularly roads.
He called for the effective implementation of the Public Investment Management Regulations and the Public Investment Plan to strengthen infrastructure financing and planning.
Mr Hesse also called for stronger road safety measures, including interventions to address increasing road fatalities and the regulation of emerging transport trends such as commercial motorcycle operations.
He stressed that major road projects should be supported by feasibility studies, detailed engineering designs, proper costing and independent technical reviews before implementation.
Vice-President of GhIE, Dr Patrick Bekoe, explained that the assessment considered key indicators such as infrastructure capacity, condition, funding, future needs, maintenance, public safety, resilience and innovation.
He said the performance of the aviation sector demonstrated that sustained investment in operations and maintenance could significantly improve infrastructure outcomes.
The GhIE said the Infrastructure Report Card would continue to be published every three years to provide an independent assessment of Ghana’s infrastructure performance and guide policy decisions.
