The government has announced the reallocation of GH¢976 million to improve public transport and strengthen Ghana's flood response, with new funding directed towards the purchase of high-capacity buses and emergency interventions following the devastating floods that struck parts of the country in June.
Presenting the 2026 Mid-Year Budget Review in Parliament on Thursday, Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson said GH¢400 million had been earmarked to procure buses for the Metro Mass Transit and the State Transport Company (STC), while an additional GH¢576 million had been set aside for flood relief and mitigation projects.
The measures form part of the government's broader effort to improve public services while responding to pressing infrastructure challenges.
GH¢400 Million for Public Transport
Dr Forson said the new buses would reinforce the fleets of Metro Mass Transit and STC, enabling the state-owned transport operators to expand services on routes where passenger demand continues to outstrip available capacity.
According to him, the buses will be deployed on busy urban and intercity corridors where commuters frequently face long queues, overcrowding and unreliable services.
"Government is committed to improving urban mobility and providing safe, reliable and affordable public transport for Ghanaians," the Finance Minister told Parliament.
The intervention is expected to ease pressure on existing fleets, improve commuter experience and strengthen the role of public transport in rapidly growing urban centres.
For thousands of workers, students and traders who rely on state transport every day, the additional buses could provide some relief from persistent transport shortages, particularly during peak travel hours.
Flood Relief Receives GH¢576 Million
The Mid-Year Budget Review also placed disaster management high on the government's spending agenda.
Dr Forson announced that GH¢350 million had been reallocated to finance emergency relief operations, while GH¢226 million would support flood mitigation projects under the Ministry of Works, Housing and Water Resources.
He explained that although Parliament had approved access to the Contingency Fund under Article 177(1) of the Constitution, the government could not draw on the fund because it was subject to a garnishee order issued by the Accra High Court.
As a result, the administration adopted an alternative financing arrangement.
"Given the urgency of protecting lives, providing humanitarian relief to affected communities and restoring critical infrastructure, government reallocated GH¢350 million," Dr Forson said.
The emergency allocation has been transferred from the Finance Minister's contingency vote to the Disaster Management Committee under the Ministry of the Interior.
Long-Term Flood Strategy Planned
Beyond immediate relief, the government says it is preparing a longer-term response to Ghana's recurring flooding challenges.
The June 29 floods inundated parts of Accra and several other communities after hours of heavy rainfall, damaging homes, businesses, roads and public infrastructure while disrupting economic activity.
President John Dramani Mahama has directed the Ministry of Works, Housing and Water Resources to develop a comprehensive flood management strategy covering Accra and other flood-prone areas.
The government says future budgets will include funding for major drainage improvements, flood control infrastructure and other resilience projects, with additional allocations expected in the 2027 Budget and the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework.
Together, the transport and flood interventions account for one of the largest expenditure reallocations announced in the Mid-Year Budget Review, reflecting the government's attempt to address both everyday public service needs and the growing costs of climate-related disasters.
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