Suhuyini Suggests Pension Funds for Road Infrastructure Development
Alhassan Suhuyini, Deputy Minister-Designate for Roads and Highways, has proposed utilizing pension funds to finance key infrastructure projects in Ghana.
Speaking during his vetting before Parliament on Wednesday, February 26, 2025, Suhuyini highlighted how long-term pension investments could be redirected toward developing critical infrastructure such as roads and highways.
His suggestion comes amid ongoing discussions in Parliament on innovative financing mechanisms, including Public-Private Partnerships (PPP), for infrastructure projects.
The Tamale Central MP pointed to the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) and other pension fund managers, noting their historical investments in luxury hotels and high-value assets. While acknowledging the returns from these investments, he questioned whether a portion of these funds could be redirected to address pressing infrastructure needs.
“Personally, I think we have to also begin to look at the investment portfolios of some of our pension fund management institutions. For example, the report of SSNIT shows that they invest in luxurious hotels and other assets. I wonder if moving forward, some of these funds can now be used to support this very critical infrastructure—roads of the country—and, just like we are talking about tolling, toll those roads over the years.”
Suhuyini proposed a tolling model to recoup investments, suggesting that if pension funds were used to construct a three-tier dual carriageway from Accra to Kumasi, with four tolling stops, the investment could be recouped over time.
He added that since pension funds are inherently long-term investments, this approach could provide a sustainable financing model for infrastructure without overly burdening the national budget.
“We all know that pension funds are supposed to have investments for long terms because people who invest in pensions do so for longer terms. So, I think that conversation should go on, and I will be guided by my minister and look at how far the law allows for us to look to those options.”
The proposal aligns with the government’s broader push for innovative financing amid budget constraints and rising demands for improved infrastructure.
Source: CNR