Who are roads for? Welfare, rights, and the politics of road infrastructure reframing in Ghana

While infrastructure is widely acknowledged as a catalyst for economic growth and national development, its role in promoting equity, citizenship, and social justice remains underexplored. This paper interrogates the normative and policy dimensions of road infrastructure provision in Ghana by reframing it as both a government obligation and a welfare good. Using historical and policy analysis, it traces the evolution of road infrastructure from the colonial period to the present, highlighting persistent spatial inequalities and governance shortcomings. Drawing on Esping-Andersen’s welfare regime typology and social contract theory, the paper finds that road infrastructure provision in Ghana is systematically shaped more by political patronage, market efficiency logics, and donor priorities than by rights-based or welfare-oriented considerations. This dynamic has produced persistent spatial inequalities, with rural and marginalised communities being disproportionally excluded from reliable access to roads. The paper argues that road infrastructure should not merely be seen as a discretionary development tool, but as a fundamental right and a vehicle for welfare enhancement. The paper calls for a shift toward rights-based, equity-focused, and participatory infrastructure governance by integrating theoretical insights with empirical illustrations.