The Deputy Minister-Designate for Roads and Highways, Alhassan Sayibu Suhuyini, has emphasised the need for private investment in road construction to help generate additional funding and meet the growing public demand for better roads.
Speaking during his vetting before Parliament’s Appointments Committee on February 26, he noted that no roads in Ghana have been constructed through public-private partnerships (PPP) so far.
However, he acknowledged that efforts were underway, guided by Act 1039, to explore such partnerships, and he remained hopeful that these initiatives would yield positive results.
"Currently, we do not have any roads in this country that have been constructed as a result of public-private partnership. I know that there are some works in relation to how we can do that, being guided by Act 1039, and I am also hopeful that it would yield some results," he stated.
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When asked about privatisation in the face of limited funds and high demand for roads, Mr Suhuyini suggested that pension funds could be utilised for road infrastructure projects.
"Personally, I think that maybe we have to also begin to look at the investment portfolios of these pension institutions. For example, when I pick reports from SSNIT and I see that they are investing in luxurious hotels and they are investing in some assets, I wonder if, moving forward, these funds cannot be used to support this very critical infrastructure need of the country and toll it over the years," he said.
He proposed that if an agency were to support the construction of a three-lane dual carriageway from Accra to Tamale or Kumasi, with four toll points, such an investment could prove profitable over the years.
Mr Suhuyini explained that pension funds should be invested in long-term projects, given that individuals only access their pensions after several years.
He further emphasised the importance of public-private partnerships (PPP) in road construction and called for continuous discussions to explore sustainable funding solutions.
"I would be guided by the agenda of my Minister for now, as far as the law allows us to engage partners that would work with the ministry to improve the road network in the country," he added.
