Building Resilient Infrastructure: India's Crucial Lessons for Ghana's Future

An ongoing familiarisation visit by journalists from Africa and the Pacific to India has highlighted a critical development challenge for many developing countries: the need to build infrastructure that can withstand climate shocks, disasters, and rapid urbanisation while supporting long-term growth. The discussions underscored how infrastructure resilience has become central to sustainable development as countries face increasing exposure to extreme weather events, systemic risks, and expanding urban populations. At the heart of these conversations was the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, a global partnership bringing together governments, United Nations agencies, development banks, the private sector, and academia. Launched by India at the 2019 UN Climate Action Summit, the coalition promotes the idea that resilience is no longer optional in a world marked by interconnected crises. India continues to play a leading role as permanent co-chair of the coalition’s governing council, positioning itself as a strong global advocate for resilient infrastructure. The scale of the global infrastructure challenge is immense. Over the next two decades, trillions of dollars will be required annually to meet infrastructure needs, with developing countries accounting for a significant share of this demand. Yet a substantial portion of this investment does not materialise, contributing to a widening gap in essential infrastructure. At the same time, the financial toll of disasters continues to rise, with developing regions bearing a disproportionate share of global losses. Africa’s situation is particularly significant, as the majority of its infrastructure has yet to be built, making current decisions decisive for future resilience or vulnerability. For Ghana, these discussions are especially relevant. Despite ongoing investments in roads, housing, markets, and drainage systems, weak maintenance practices, poor enforcement of regulations, and indiscipline in urban development have left infrastructure highly vulnerable. Recurrent flooding, market fires, and building collapses illustrate how many disasters are exacerbated by human actions such as building in waterways, using substandard materials, and neglecting routine upkeep. These failures repeatedly destroy lives and livelihoods while draining public resources through constant rebuilding. A central lesson from India’s experience and the work of the coalition is that resilience must be embedded at the planning and design stage of infrastructure projects. This requires detailed risk and vulnerability assessments that reflect local realities, alongside strong governance, updated standards, and effective building codes. Incorporating mitigation measures early and exploring innovative financing options are particularly important for countries facing fiscal constraints. Beyond funding, building resilient infrastructure depends on strengthening institutional and technical capacity. As digital tools, advanced engineering, and data-driven planning become more prominent, developing countries must invest in skills, research, and implementation capability. Knowledge sharing across countries also plays a vital role, allowing governments to learn from each other’s successes and failures and reinforcing the idea that infrastructure resilience is a global public good. For Ghana, resilient infrastructure is inseparable from broader development goals. Infrastructure failures tend to hit the poorest communities hardest, disrupt economic activity, and undermine investor confidence. The key message emerging from India is that resilience is not only about climate-proofing physical assets, but also about governance, discipline, and long-term planning. As climate risks intensify and urbanisation accelerates, Ghana’s development path will depend on its ability to move from reactive rebuilding after disasters to proactive investment in infrastructure that is designed, maintained, and governed to endure.