The government’s big push initiative has emerged as a flagship program aimed at tackling the country’s persistent road challenges. The Big Push initiative, introduced by the current administration, is designed to deliver durable, high-quality roads while addressing Ghana’s growing infrastructure deficit, estimated at about $1.5 billion annually.
The program follows previous interventions such as the “Year of Roads” under the former government, but seeks to take a more expansive and structured approach to road development across the country.
Scope of the Big Push Initiative
Under the big push initiative, the government is targeting more than 45 major road projects across key economic corridors. This includes 32 new road projects as well as the completion of 13 previously abandoned projects. The overarching goal is to improve connectivity, boost trade, and enhance economic activity nationwide.
A central feature of the initiative is its ambitious financial commitment, with the government projecting a total investment of about $10 billion into road infrastructure over the implementation period.
Funding and Budgetary Allocations
Budgetary projections indicate a steady increase in road sector spending. In 2025, approximately GH¢13.9 billion was allocated to roads. This is expected to rise to about GH¢17 billion in 2026, GH¢19 billion in 2027, and GH¢21 billion by 2028, an election year.
The government has outlined several funding sources for the big push initiative, including mineral royalties, which are expected to contribute about 35 percent of total funding. This projection is supported by strong performance in the mining sector, particularly gold.
Additional financing is expected from the Annual Budget Funding Amount (ABFA), while the Ghana Roads Fund is also expected to contribute, although its current revenue levels are considered insufficient to meet the scale of investment required.
Road Tolls and Revenue Measures
Another potential funding stream under consideration is the reintroduction of road tolls. The government had previously indicated plans to reinstate tolling after criticizing its earlier abolition.
Beyond construction, the big push initiative also places significant emphasis on road maintenance. The government has earmarked about $5 billion specifically for maintaining existing road infrastructure.
This focus addresses a long-standing challenge in Ghana’s road sector, where inadequate maintenance often leads to rapid deterioration, resulting in higher long-term reconstruction costs.
Road infrastructure continues to dominate national discourse, with many Ghanaians ranking it among the most critical issues influencing development and even electoral outcomes.
