Ghana Makes a Data Case for Resilient Infrastructure
Ghana is taking a deliberate step to overhaul how it plans, finances and safeguards its infrastructure, formally requesting support from the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure to establish a National Infrastructure Registry.
The request, channelled through the Ministry of Finance and the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund, reflects a growing policy consensus that fragmented infrastructure data is undermining effective planning, weakening investment decisions and exposing national assets to avoidable disaster risks.
Details of the request emerged during a 10-day familiarisation visit to India by 27 editors and journalists, including six from Ghana.
From Concept to Commitment
CDRI officials indicated that Ghana’s engagement represents more than policy curiosity. The government has formally sought support to design and operationalise a comprehensive, data-driven national register of infrastructure projects and assets, embedding resilience considerations into infrastructure decision-making from the outset.
The proposed registry will consolidate verified information on roads, utilities, public buildings and major infrastructure projects across sectors, creating a unified national reference point. Government officials view this consolidation as essential to reducing institutional silos, improving coordination and strengthening transparency across the infrastructure value chain.
Making Resilience Measurable
Beyond record-keeping, the registry is intended to change how infrastructure risks are assessed and managed. CDRI authorities emphasised that centralised, high-quality data allows governments to move from reactive responses to anticipatory planning, identifying vulnerable assets before disasters strike.
By linking infrastructure data with resilience metrics, Ghana would be better positioned to prioritise upgrades, guide new investments and ensure that infrastructure spending delivers durability rather than short-term fixes.
Coordinating the State, Not Replacing It
The National Infrastructure Registry is being designed as a coordination platform, not a takeover mechanism. Ministries, departments and agencies will continue to manage their sector-specific asset databases, but will be required to feed standardised, regularly updated information into the national system.
This approach preserves institutional expertise while enabling national-level oversight, allowing policymakers to see the full infrastructure landscape rather than fragmented sectoral snapshots.
Finance at the Core of Infrastructure Decisions
Anchoring the registry within the Ministry of Finance and GIIF signals a shift toward tighter alignment between infrastructure data and public investment decisions.
For GIIF, the registry strengthens project screening and investment structuring by grounding decisions in verified national data. For the Ministry of Finance, it provides clearer visibility into infrastructure exposure, fiscal risks and long-term maintenance obligations critical inputs for responsible budgeting and debt management.
A Long View on Development
CDRI officials noted that countries with similar registries have achieved stronger infrastructure performance, improved investor confidence and reduced disaster-related losses. Ghana’s interest in adopting this model reflects an understanding that infrastructure resilience is not a technical add-on, but a development imperative.
If successfully implemented, the registry could become a cornerstone of Ghana’s growth strategy, ensuring that infrastructure development is informed by evidence, coordinated across government and resilient to future shocks.
A Quiet but Significant Shift
Ghana’s formal request to CDRI marks a subtle but significant shift in policy thinking, away from infrastructure as isolated projects, toward infrastructure as a managed national system.
As climate risks intensify and fiscal space tightens, the message from government is clear: infrastructure that cannot be accurately tracked cannot be properly protected, financed or sustained. The proposed National Infrastructure Registry is an attempt to correct that gap—and reshape Ghana’s development trajectory in the process.
