Railways in Ghana: The growth of cocoa production along the railroads are clearly visible. In times of economic crisis, transport infrastructure are often the first items slashed from the government's budget. This is because 1) it's easy to do so: there are few consumer, labour or other electoral groups that feel strong enough about the unbuilt railway or airport, and 2) like a frog in boiling water, we only notice the decline of the infrastructure over an extended period of time (and when it's already too late): small potholes don't attract the anguish of protesters, but wait a few years and those same potholes might double or tripple the time and cost of traveling. Any politician trying to cut government expenditure on education or health would face the (election) gallows, but cut transport infrastructure investment and few will notice.
Four lessons from railways in Ghana
Four lessons from railways in Ghana
Four lessons from railways in Ghana
Railways in Ghana: The growth of cocoa production along the railroads are clearly visible. In times of economic crisis, transport infrastructure are often the first items slashed from the government's budget. This is because 1) it's easy to do so: there are few consumer, labour or other electoral groups that feel strong enough about the unbuilt railway or airport, and 2) like a frog in boiling water, we only notice the decline of the infrastructure over an extended period of time (and when it's already too late): small potholes don't attract the anguish of protesters, but wait a few years and those same potholes might double or tripple the time and cost of traveling. Any politician trying to cut government expenditure on education or health would face the (election) gallows, but cut transport infrastructure investment and few will notice.