Delayed government-funded construction projects are exposing millions of Ghanaians to significant health risks from air pollution. The Adentan–Dodowa Road upgrade, initially scheduled for three years, has stalled, leaving communities covered in dust and harmful pollutants since 2024. This situation is not isolated, reflecting a broader pattern of delays in the government’s “Big Push” infrastructure program.
These prolonged delays are frequently attributed to the government’s failure to make timely payments to contractors. This financial bottleneck forces contractors to halt work, extending the period during which communities are exposed to construction-related dust and emissions. The health consequences are severe, including increased risks of asthma, heart disease, cancer, and diabetes among the affected population.
The issue underscores systemic challenges in Ghana’s infrastructure development, particularly concerning project oversight and financial discipline. Joseph Odei, a fellow of the Ghana Institution of Engineers, stated that Ghana often implements engineering projects poorly, especially government-funded ones. He cited poor oversight and corruption as key reasons for project delays, noting that delayed payments cause contractors to face challenges and abandon sites.
The 22-kilometre Adentan–Dodowa dual carriageway, awarded to Oswal Investments in March 2024 for a 36-month period, aims to ease traffic congestion and boost economic activity between the Greater Accra, Eastern, and Volta regions. However, Minister for Roads and Highways, Kwame Agbodza, conceded in 2025 that the project had stalled. He attributed this to the previous government’s failure to make agreed payments, though he confirmed outstanding payments had since been settled.
Gabriel Foli, project manager for Oswal Investments, previously indicated that delays were also due to property acquisition, compensation negotiations, and utility line relocation. Despite these challenges, he stated in July that the project was two-thirds complete and on track for a March 2027 finish. However, residents like Mary Adjiele, 50, report that three of her grandchildren have developed severe coughs with fevers, forcing the family to spend significant income on medical treatment.
Public health nurse Dorcas Effah Agyeiwaa from Amamorley Clinic warned that road dust contains fine particles, cement, silica, and vehicle exhaust. Breathing these irritates airways, worsens asthma, and can cause blood vessels to break, leading to blood in coughs. Health authorities acknowledge the economic benefits of infrastructure but stress that health impacts from delays cannot be ignored.
The Ghana Health Service reports a rise in respiratory illnesses across the Greater Accra Region. Dr. Robert Amesiya, Greater Accra Regional Director of Health Services, noted that hypertension, closely linked to air pollution, was the fifth leading cause of death in Accra in the two years to 2023, claiming 200 lives and affecting nearly 40,000 people. Asthma and cardiac cases also increased during this period.
A spare parts dealer along the Adentan–Dodowa road described constant health challenges due to thick dust, forcing his wife, who suffers from worsening asthma, to stop assisting him. He appeals for the road to be asphalted to reduce dust. Provision shop owner Serwaa Ansah Opoku and waakye vendor Hamdia Ishmahill also report constant illness and reduced business due to the dust. These accounts highlight the urgent need for government to address payment delays and ensure timely project completion to safeguard public health.