According to WPB, Ghana is facing supply challenges for specialized road-grade bitumen, with contractors reporting delivery delays that have slowed progress on several projects under the government's Big Push infrastructure program. In response, Ghana's Ministry of Roads and Highways has called for stronger domestic production and distribution capacity, warned that alternative suppliers may be selected if existing arrangements fail, and directed the establishment of three additional bitumen testing facilities across the country.
The developments, reported on November 12–13, 2026, highlight increasing pressure on Ghana's road construction supply chain as major infrastructure projects advance toward their asphalt paving stages. The immediate problem concerns the availability and timely delivery of performance-grade (PG) bitumen, particularly the specialized binders required for the asphalt mixtures specified in government road projects.
Supply concerns emerged during inspections of major road construction works conducted on November 10–11. Contractors working on the Eastern Corridor and the Tamale Outer Ring Road identified delayed deliveries of specialized bitumen as a significant obstacle to maintaining project schedules.
One of the affected projects is the 53.35-kilometre Have–Hohoe road in Ghana's Volta Region. The contractor, Greenhouse International Limited, reported difficulties obtaining the required bitumen, explaining that the limited number of suitable suppliers had complicated procurement.
According to the contractor's account, the availability of the specified PG bitumen had been particularly constrained between September 10 and October 20, 2026. Delays in obtaining the material affected construction progress, even as other stages of the roadworks continued.
The problem has become especially important because several contractors have completed sub-base construction and are progressing through the base-course stage, creating demand for the bituminous binders required in subsequent asphalt layers. The approaching dry-season construction period also increases the importance of securing materials in time to maintain paving schedules.
The government has consequently called on GoEnergy Company Limited, a subsidiary of GOIL PLC, to improve the reliability and timing of bitumen deliveries. A significant share of government procurement has been directed through GoEnergy to support competitive pricing and establish a more dependable supply chain for road construction.
However, the Ministry of Roads and Highways has made clear that the existing supply arrangement will be reconsidered if contractors' requirements cannot be met. Alternative suppliers could be engaged to prevent further disruption to infrastructure projects.
The government's response includes a longer-term objective of strengthening Ghana's capacity to produce polymer-modified bitumen (PMB) domestically. Officials have emphasized that reliance on external suppliers creates vulnerabilities when specialized materials are needed for large-scale road construction programs.
Polymer-modified bitumen is produced by incorporating selected polymers into a conventional bitumen binder to improve specific performance characteristics, including resistance to permanent deformation and cracking. These properties are important for heavily trafficked roads and demanding pavement conditions.
Performance-grade bitumen and polymer-modified bitumen are closely related in some road construction applications, but the terms describe different technical characteristics. PG refers to a binder classification based on performance at specified pavement temperatures, whereas PMB identifies a binder modified with polymers. Depending on the required specification, polymer modification can be used to achieve certain performance grades.
Ghana already has domestic bitumen processing infrastructure. The GOIL–Société Multinationale de Bitumes (SMB) terminal and production facility in Tema was inaugurated in September 2024 as a joint venture involving Ghanaian and Ivorian partners. The facility includes storage and blending infrastructure for bitumen products, along with equipment for producing polymer-modified bitumen and bitumen emulsions.
According to GOIL's published technical information, the Tema facility produces SBS polymer-modified bitumen and lists performance grades including PG 70-22, PG 76-22, and PG 82-22. Its operations include receiving base bitumen, processing specialized binders, testing product quality, and distributing materials by road tanker and other transport methods.
The government's latest production initiative therefore concerns strengthening an existing domestic processing industry and ensuring that locally available capacity can meet project requirements. It does not represent the introduction of Ghana's first polymer-modified bitumen production facility. Domestic modification and blending can reduce dependence on imported finished PMB products, although the industry may still require imported base bitumen and other raw materials.
Another major government measure is the planned establishment of three additional bitumen testing facilities. The Ghana Highway Authority has been instructed to develop testing capacity in the Greater Accra, Ashanti, and Northern Regions, with facilities serving Accra, Kumasi, and Tamale.
The testing program is intended to improve quality assurance and make technical evaluation more accessible to contractors and suppliers outside the capital. Decentralized testing could reduce the need to transport samples over long distances and support more efficient verification of bitumen supplied to regional road projects.
The authorities have also urged suppliers to strengthen coordination and improve distribution efficiency. Industry participants have committed to meeting contractors' requirements and supporting the timely implementation of infrastructure works.
The supply difficulties are significant for the West African bitumen market. Ghana's expanding road infrastructure program creates demand for specialized paving binders, while delivery delays demonstrate how limited supplier availability and distribution constraints can affect construction schedules even where domestic processing facilities already exist.
Neighboring countries, including Côte d'Ivoire and Togo, remain relevant to Ghana's regional supply network. The government's consideration of alternative sources may influence procurement patterns, particularly for products meeting the technical specifications required by contractors.
For international suppliers, the situation highlights potential demand for performance-grade and polymer-modified bitumen in Ghana, although actual commercial opportunities depend on approved specifications, procurement arrangements, transport costs, and delivery capabilities. The absence of a published national shortage volume means that the current reports should be understood as evidence of supply difficulties affecting specific projects rather than a quantified shortage across the entire Ghanaian market.
The November developments underline a broader challenge facing infrastructure investment in West Africa: ensuring that the supply of specialized construction materials keeps pace with project implementation. Ghana's response combines immediate procurement measures, greater attention to domestic PMB processing capacity, and expanded quality-testing infrastructure.
The outcome will be important for Ghana's road construction sector and regional bitumen suppliers. Reliable availability of approved paving binders, rather than production capacity alone, will determine whether contractors can maintain construction schedules and whether the country's efforts to strengthen domestic bitumen supply translate into greater resilience across its infrastructure program.
By WPB
Ghana Bitumen Shortage, Ghana Bitumen Market, Ghana Road Construction, Big Push Infrastructure Program, Ghana Polymer Modified Bitumen, PMB Production Ghana, Performance Grade Bitumen, PG Bitumen, GoEnergy Ghana, GOIL Bitumen Plant, Tema Bitumen Terminal, Ghana Highway Authority, Bitumen Testing Facilities, Accra Bitumen, Kumasi Road Construction, Tamale Road Projects, Have Hohoe Road, West Africa Bitumen Market, Bitumen Import Dependence, Bitumen Supply Chain, Asphalt Binder Supply, African Infrastructure Development
