Improving Labor-Based Road Rehabilitation in Ghana

Abstract

In an attempt to create more employment and reduce poverty, a labor-based road rehabilitation program was introduced in Ghana in 1986 with the assistance of international organizations. Although this program has the potential to create more employment than equipment-intensive methods, it is considered less attractive than equipment-intensive methods. It is considered to be too slow, encumbered with labor organization and management problems, and reliant upon casual (nonpermanent) workers. This paper describes the family-based labor management (FBLM) concept intended to make the labor-based road program more attractive to contractors and laborers, and thereby help address the unemployment and poverty problems. It is anticipated that if at least 10% of the $174 million currently used to import construction and earthmoving equipment annually is invested in labor-based road rehabilitation program, about 23,000 jobs could be created. If 50% of the equipment expenses are invested in the program, almost 117,000 jobs could be created annually. The proposed FBLM concept is flexible enough to serve as a model to other African countries encountering similar problems.