Accra: Ghana’s ambitious Agenda for Jobs II (2022-2025) aims to create prosperity and equal opportunities for all. Yet, the 2024 Annual Progress Report (APR) by the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) outdoored on October 13, 2025, revealed persistent infrastructure gaps that threaten to undermine these goals.
According to Ghana News Agency, Dr Nii Moi Thompson, the Chairman of NDPC and Presidential Advisor on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), unveiled the report in Accra. He said the report would be made available to the Office of the President, Parliament of Ghana, Ministries, Departments and Agencies as well as the Regional Coordinating Councils and Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies to inform policy action.
The report provided a sobering assessment of development challenges across key sectors including roads, agriculture, education, industry, services, water and sanitation, and information communication technology. Mr Isaac Kwesi Eweh, a Chief Analyst at the Monitoring and Evaluation Division, NDPC, presented an overview of the report, which revealed stark infrastructure deficits over the last four years.
Dr Audrey Smock Amoah, the Director-General of NDPC, emphasised that the report served not only as a record of Ghana’s development journey under the Agenda for Jobs II, but as a strategic tool to guide action. She acknowledged persistent challenges in data quality and coordination across institutions but highlighted ongoing measures to enhance reliability and called on all stakeholders to engage with the findings and use them to drive inclusive and evidence-based development across the country.
The Ministry of Roads and Highways recorded one of the highest cost escalations among all ministries. Out of 17,900 capital projects tracked nationwide, 9,616 were road-related and at various stages of completion. The total contract sum for all ongoing capital projects rose from GH?434.8 billion to GH?505.8 billion, resulting in a staggering GH?70.3 billion in cost overruns. Despite this massive investment, many road projects remain incomplete or delayed, especially in rural and agricultural zones. Poor road conditions continue to hamper access to markets, schools, and healthcare.
The report highlighted that many public schools still suffer from overcrowded classrooms and inadequate infrastructure. In several districts, schools operate in temporary structures or under trees, lacking basic amenities such as toilets, libraries, and science labs. Technical and vocational education institutions also face infrastructure deficits, limiting their capacity to deliver skills training aligned with job market demands.
While the Agenda for Jobs II targeted inclusive job creation, infrastructure bottlenecks-especially in transport and energy-are slowing industrial growth and employment generation. The report noted that macroeconomic instability and delayed project execution have constrained the expansion of job-intensive sectors like construction, agriculture, and manufacturing.
Sanitation infrastructure remains inadequate across many regions. The report pointed to limited sewerage systems and poor waste disposal practices, particularly in urban slums and peri-urban communities. Access to improved sanitation facilities is still below national targets, with open defecation persisting in some areas.
Despite efforts to expand digital infrastructure, broadband penetration remains low in rural Ghana. Public institutions struggle with outdated systems and limited connectivity, affecting service delivery and digital inclusion. The report emphasizes the need for targeted investment in ICT to support education, governance, and entrepreneurship.
The NDPC’s 2024 Annual Progress Report underscored the urgent need for strategic infrastructure investment and better project management. With GH?315.4 billion in outstanding payments for capital projects, Ghana faces a critical juncture: either close these gaps to unlock inclusive growth or risk deepening inequality and economic stagnation. These gaps reflected broader structural challenges in financing, coordination and maintenance across sectors. The report emphasised the need for targeted investments, public-private partnerships, and improved planning and coordination to close these infrastructure deficits.