The high cost of every pothole

How much money can a pothole take from you?
For many motorists, the answer is painfully familiar: a burst tyre, a bent rim, damaged shock absorbers, twisted ball joints, worn-out suspension components, misaligned steering, cracked windscreens and expensive repair bills.

Sometimes, it is far worse – a life cut short or a family left to mourn because a driver swerved to avoid a crater on the road or lost control after hitting one at high speed.

Across Ghana, potholes have become more than an inconvenience. They have evolved into silent killers and an enormous economic burden on both individuals and the nation.

Every day, thousands of commuters and commercial drivers navigate roads that have deteriorated into obstacle courses, risking lives and property simply to reach their destinations.

Perhaps nowhere is this more evident than on sections of the Accra-Kumasi Highway, Ghana's busiest and most economically significant road corridor. Stretching from the nation's capital to the Ashanti Region, the highway serves as the backbone of commerce, connecting ports, industries, markets and communities. Yet, several sections have become riddled with potholes, deep gullies and uneven surfaces that pose serious danger to motorists.

A journey that should be smooth and predictable has become a frustrating exercise in dodging craters. Drivers weave from lane to lane in search of safer patches of asphalt, often creating dangerous situations for oncoming traffic. At night, when visibility is poor, the risks multiply.

For commercial drivers, every pothole translates into additional operating costs. Tyres wear out prematurely. Wheel alignments become frequent necessities. Suspension systems fail earlier than expected. Fuel consumption increases because drivers must constantly brake and accelerate around damaged sections. These costs are eventually passed on to passengers and consumers through higher transport fares and increased prices of goods.

Private vehicle owners are no better off. A single encounter with a deep pothole can destroy a tyre worth thousands of cedis or damage a vehicle's suspension system, requiring repairs that many households can scarcely afford. For low-income families already struggling with the rising cost of living, such unexpected expenses can upset carefully planned budgets.

But the true cost of neglected roads cannot be measured only in cedis.

Lives are being lost.
Road crashes associated with poor road conditions continue to claim innocent victims. While speeding, reckless driving and human error remain major causes of accidents, deteriorating road surfaces significantly increase the likelihood of crashes. Drivers attempting to avoid potholes may collide with other vehicles, pedestrians or roadside objects. Motorcyclists and cyclists are especially vulnerable, as even a relatively small pothole can throw them off balance with fatal consequences.

Those who survive often suffer life-changing injuries that require prolonged medical treatment, rehabilitation and financial support. Families bear emotional trauma while the nation shoulders additional healthcare costs and loses productive citizens.

The economic implications extend far beyond vehicle repairs and hospital bills.

Hours of productivity are lost daily as motorists slow down to navigate damaged roads or become stranded after mechanical breakdowns. Goods arrive late at markets. Businesses miss deadlines. Emergency services face delays. Employees spend additional hours in traffic instead of at work. These cumulative losses reduce national productivity and undermine economic growth.

For a country seeking to position itself as a regional hub for trade and investment, deteriorating road infrastructure sends the wrong signal. Efficient transportation is essential for attracting investment, supporting manufacturing and facilitating agricultural trade. Poor roads increase the cost of doing business and reduce Ghana's competitiveness.

One of the most troubling aspects of the situation is the apparent lack of urgency.

Many of these potholes did not appear overnight. They often begin as small cracks that could have been repaired quickly and inexpensively. Left unattended, however, rainwater seeps beneath the pavement, weakening the road structure until entire sections collapse into dangerous craters. What could have been resolved through routine maintenance eventually requires costly reconstruction.

Preventive maintenance remains one of the most cost-effective approaches to preserving road infrastructure. Unfortunately, maintenance frequently receives less attention than new road construction, even though protecting existing investments is just as important as creating new ones.

Motorists continue to ask the same question: Who is responsible?

Whether it is the Ghana Highway Authority, the Department of Urban Roads, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies or road contractors, the public expects timely intervention before roads deteriorate beyond acceptable standards. Delays in repairs expose road users to unnecessary danger and increase the eventual cost of rehabilitation.

Citizens also have a role to play by reporting dangerous road conditions, exercising patience while repairs are undertaken and observing speed limits. However, responsibility ultimately rests with institutions entrusted with maintaining the nation's road network.

The Accra-Kumasi Highway deserves immediate attention. As one of Ghana's busiest transport corridors, its condition should reflect its strategic importance. Temporary patching of isolated potholes may provide short-term relief, but comprehensive rehabilitation of severely affected sections is urgently required.

Every day that these potholes remain unattended, motorists continue to pay the price – not only with damaged vehicles but also with lost income, wasted time, physical injuries and, in some tragic cases, their lives.

The question therefore remains: How much money can a pothole take from you?

The more important question is this: How many more lives must be lost before decisive action is taken?

Ghana cannot afford to allow its roads to become monuments to neglect. Safe roads are not a luxury; they are a necessity for national development, economic progress and the protection of human life. Every pothole repaired is more than a maintenance exercise; it is an investment in safety, productivity and the future of the country.

By Ernest Kofi Adu

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