Why Ghana Must Rethink Infrastructure Resilience for Sustainable Development
Developing countries are confronting a growing development dilemma: how to build infrastructure that can withstand climate shocks, disasters and rapid urbanisation while still supporting long-term sustainable growth. That challenge has been brought into sharp focus following a familiarisation visit by journalists to India.
At the centre of the discussions was the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), a global partnership of national governments, United Nations agencies, multilateral development banks, the private sector and academia, established to advance climate- and disaster-resilient infrastructure as a cornerstone of sustainable development.
CDRI was launched by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the 2019 UN Climate Action Summit, with a clear warning that resilience can no longer be treated as optional in an increasingly volatile world. “As the pandemic has reminded us, no one is safe till everyone is safe. We have to ensure that we leave no community, no place, no ecosystem and no economy behind,” Mr. Modi said.
India continues to play a pivotal role in the initiative as the permanent co-chair of CDRI’s Governing Council, positioning the country as a leading global advocate for resilient infrastructure.
The Infrastructure Gap and the Cost of Inaction
According to Mr. Ramesh Subramaniam, Global Director for Programmes and Strategy at CDRI, the scale of the global infrastructure challenge is staggering. Between 2025 and 2040, the world will require an estimated $7 trillion in infrastructure investment annually, with developing countries accounting for about $3.2 trillion of that figure.
Yet more than half of this required investment fails to materialise each year, creating a growing backlog of unmet infrastructure needs. Even more concerning, Mr. Subramaniam noted, is the rising cost of disasters. Average Annual Losses now stand at about $820 billion globally, with roughly 50 percent borne by developing countries across Africa, Asia, the Caribbean and the Pacific.
Africa’s position is particularly stark. More than 70 percent of the continent’s infrastructure is yet to be built, presenting both a risk and a rare opportunity. Decisions taken today will either lock countries into long-term vulnerability or lay the foundation for resilience over generations.
Ghana’s Reality: When Disasters Are Self-Inflicted
For Ghana, the global discussion on resilient infrastructure strikes a familiar chord. Despite sustained investments in roads, markets, housing and drainage systems, resilience remains weak, largely due to poor maintenance, weak enforcement of regulations and widespread indiscipline.
Perennial flooding in urban centres, recurring market fires and periodic building collapses highlight how many of Ghana’s infrastructure-related disasters are largely self-inflicted. Construction in waterways, disregard for planning regulations, use of substandard materials and neglect of routine maintenance undermine the very concept of resilience.
Beyond the human toll, these failures impose heavy fiscal costs, forcing government into repeated cycles of reconstruction instead of channeling scarce resources into new development priorities. This pattern directly undermines economic resilience and sustainable development.
Embedding Resilience at the Design Stage
A key lesson from CDRI’s work is that resilience must be embedded from the planning and design stage, not retrofitted after disasters strike. This begins with rigorous vulnerability and risk assessments that reflect country-specific—and often location-specific—realities, including flood exposure and climate risks.
Mr. Subramaniam stressed that mitigation measures must be integrated directly into project designs, supported by updated standards, enforceable building codes and strong governance frameworks. Financing, he added, must also be innovative, particularly for countries grappling with debt sustainability constraints.
Capacity, Technology and Knowledge Sharing
Beyond financing, CDRI places strong emphasis on capacity building, recognising that institutional and technical capabilities must continuously evolve. As digital tools, artificial intelligence and advanced engineering solutions increasingly shape infrastructure planning, developing countries must invest in skills development, research and implementation capacity.
Knowledge sharing is equally critical. CDRI provides a platform for countries—both developed and developing—to exchange best practices and learn from one another, reinforcing the idea that infrastructure resilience is a global public good.
Infrastructure Resilience as a Development Imperative
For Ghana, strengthening infrastructure resilience is inseparable from achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. Infrastructure failures disproportionately affect the poorest communities, disrupt economic activity and weaken investor confidence.
The message from India is unambiguous: resilient infrastructure is not just about climate-proofing assets, but about discipline, governance and long-term thinking. Without a strong maintenance culture, respect for planning laws and accountability in public works, infrastructure investments will remain fragile.
As climate risks intensify and urban populations expand, Ghana’s development trajectory will increasingly depend on its ability to move from reactive rebuilding after disasters to proactive investment in resilient infrastructure—built to last, properly maintained and designed to protect both people and the economy.
