KNUST expert forecasts infrastructure decline in Ashanti region due to budget cuts

Prof. Clifford Amoako, head of the Planning Department at KNUST, warns that budget cuts may stall infrastructure development in the Ashanti region in 2025.

He noted that the budget for infrastructure dropped from 7.3 billion cedis in 2024 to 6.1 billion cedis in 2025. The government has promised to complete stalled projects in the region. Nana Yaw Gyimah reports on this issue.

Key infrastructure projects include the Suame Interchange and phase two of the Kejetia redevelopment project. Residents hope these projects will boost economic opportunities. However, Prof. Amoako advises limiting expectations regarding their completion.

In an interview, he explained that there is a cut of about 16.8%. He mentioned that this reduction isn't clearly explained in the budget. It could be due to a lack of resources or other unmentioned issues. This means some projects might not continue or could face delays.

The 2025 budget allocated 13.8 billion cedis for the "big push" campaign aimed at improving national infrastructure. Prof. Amoako stated that a clear policy statement is needed.

He said, “The write-up on the big push wasn’t clear about its direction.” He emphasized that there is no supporting policy document or reference to any proposal.

Dr. Ernest Kwarko, former Board Chairman of the National Health Insurance Authority, believes the budget allocation is insufficient for health needs in Ashanti region.

He stated, “Continuing health infrastructure projects may need more funding than allocated.” He reminded us that there are similar needs across other parts of the country as well.