Traditional authorities have a critical role to play in helping Ghana develop transport infrastructure capable of supporting its ambitions under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), the President of the Volta Regional House of Chiefs, Togbe Tepre Hodo IV, has said.
He said traditional leaders and local communities should be treated as active partners in infrastructure development rather than merely as beneficiaries or locations through which roads and other projects passed.
Togbe Tepre Hodo, who is also Paramount Chief of Anfoega, said traditional authorities could help facilitate land acquisition, resolve community grievances, protect road reservations and promote cooperation between contractors and affected communities.
He made the call at the opening of the 2026 Transport Sector Review Conference in Ho.
According to him, effective collaboration between the Government, traditional authorities, contractors and communities was essential to ensuring that infrastructure projects were completed successfully and delivered sustainable benefits.
He said Ghana’s transport development must also be deliberately aligned with regional economic corridors to enable the country to take full advantage of the opportunities created by AfCFTA.
Togbe Tepre Hodo noted that while the continental trade agreement had opened significant opportunities for increased trade and economic integration, agreements alone could not move goods across borders.
He therefore called for greater attention to efficient transport and logistics systems capable of connecting producers, markets and neighbouring countries.
The traditional leader said Ghana’s ports, roads, railways, airports and logistics facilities needed to be properly integrated if the country was to realise its ambition of becoming a major gateway and logistics hub for West Africa.
He stressed that transport planning should consequently be linked directly to regional trade patterns and economic development rather than being undertaken in isolation.
Togbe Tepre Hodo further called for greater accountability and shared responsibility among stakeholders involved in infrastructure delivery.
He said meaningful infrastructure development required all parties to understand and perform their respective roles, adding that mutual cooperation between government institutions, traditional authorities, contractors and communities would help ensure that projects delivered lasting economic and social benefits.
He said a stronger partnership with traditional authorities could also minimise disputes and delays while creating greater community ownership of major infrastructure projects.
