From Bus Ride to National Concern: Costly, Shoddy Government Projects  

Yesterday, while travelling in a public transport vehicle from Accra to Takoradi, a heated conversation erupted among passengers over the high cost and poor quality of government-funded projects across the country.

Many expressed frustration that public infrastructure projects were not only excessively expensive but often delivered below acceptable standards. Questions were raised about the roles of engineers within Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), as well as officials at the Ministry of Works and Housing, and why substandard projects frequently passed inspection.

Some passengers attributed the situation to political interference, corruption, bureaucratic delays, poor planning, weak supervision, delayed payments to contractors and financial mismanagement. Others argued strongly that public officials who supervised such projects should be prosecuted to serve as a deterrent.

Beyond these immediate explanations, poor project outcomes are often compounded by budget overruns linked to broader macroeconomic challenges such as inflation and exchange rate volatility. Ghana’s infrastructure deficit remains significant, with chronic underfunding, lack of sustained investment and limited fiscal space constraining government’s ability to close the gap efficiently.

Ensuring Accountability

Improving accountability in public infrastructure delivery remains critical. Tools such as transparency measures, publication of project and contract information, citizen monitoring platforms, simplified procurement processes and reporting mechanisms for defects and delays can significantly enhance outcomes.

Mr Isaac Aidoo, Sekondi-Takoradi Manager of the local chapter of the Infrastructure Transparency Initiative (CoST), an international organisation operating in over 20 countries, told the Ghana News Agency that multi-stakeholder assurance processes, social accountability frameworks and digital platforms that enable community reporting had proven effective in enforcing value for money and quality standards.

He said communities and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) played crucial watchdog roles by representing local interests, demanding transparency, reporting poor execution and amplifying stakeholder concerns throughout the project lifecycle.

“Their engagement ensures participatory governance, protects communities from ineffective projects, and promotes environmental and social accountability,” Mr Aidoo said.

He added that responsibility for accountability rested with government institutions, procurement agencies, legislators, the media, CSOs and local communities.

Public Participation and Institutional Capacity

Public participation and institutional capacity building are essential to sustaining accountability mechanisms. A recent Infrastructure Transparency Index report scored Ghana 26.35 per cent in citizen participation, highlighting the urgent need for more structured community involvement in project planning and implementation.

Mr Samuel Harrison-Cudjoe, Programme Officer at the Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition, noted that corrupt practices had contributed to abandoned and poorly executed projects, worsening deficits in hospitals, schools, roads and other essential services.

He warned that normalising corruption would have devastating long-term consequences and urged citizens to actively monitor projects within their communities.

Ghana’s Special Prosecutor, Lawyer Kissi Agyebeng, has also emphasised the need for homegrown anti-corruption strategies tailored to sectors such as public infrastructure procurement. His approach prioritises prevention over prosecution by targeting procurement breaches and politically exposed persons involved in public projects.

Political Will and Institutional Reforms

Experts agree that political will and institutional independence are fundamental to Ghana’s fight against corruption. Strengthening independent regulators such as the Public Procurement Authority, with real enforcement powers including debarment of corrupt firms and officials, is essential.

Some stakeholders have proposed the establishment of a specialised anti-corruption court, extension of multilateral development bank sanctions to public borrowers, and aggressive asset recovery initiatives to retrieve funds lost through inflated or shoddy projects.

Monitoring and Accountability

Mr Aziz Mahmoud, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Officer at the Infrastructure Transparency Initiative, said government must implement performance-based monitoring systems supported by real-time audits, forensic reviews and citizen reporting platforms.

He recommended continuous training for procurement staff on anti-corruption practices, enforcement of pro-social corporate responsibility policies, and prosecution of high-profile cases to deter bribery, kickbacks and tender manipulation.

As the voices from that crowded bus reflected, the call is growing louder: Ghanaians want infrastructure that delivers value for money, meets quality standards and serves present and future generations. Ensuring accountability is no longer optional—it is imperative.

By Mildred Siabi-Mensah 

GNA

Editor’s note: Views expressed in this article do not represent that of The Chronicle

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