Former Minister for Works and Housing, Francis Asenso-Boakye, has urged the government to prioritize Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) as a key strategy to bridge Ghana’s infrastructure gap.
Speaking on the floor of Parliament, Asenso-Boakye commended Ofoase/Ayirebi MP Kojo Oppong Nkrumah for highlighting the role of PPPs in public infrastructure development.
He emphasized that Ghana’s infrastructure needs surpass available public funds, making alternative financing models essential.
“The reality is that our annual budgetary allocations are insufficient to meet the country’s infrastructure demands. Reliance on traditional financing mechanisms—such as loans and grants—has become increasingly unsustainable,” he stated.
He identified bureaucratic delays, weak project preparation, and regulatory uncertainties as key challenges affecting PPPs. He called for strengthening the Project Development Facility to enhance project preparation and early-stage funding.
Asenso-Boakye also proposed a review of the PPP Act (Act 1039) to streamline approval processes and introduce clear timelines to prevent unnecessary delays. He backed direct negotiations in certain cases, provided transparency and value-for-money principles are upheld.
“The passage of the PPP Act in 2020 was a step in the right direction, but regulatory gaps and bureaucratic hurdles continue to discourage private sector participation. We must act swiftly to remove these bottlenecks,” he said.
He further suggested developing a National PPP Project Pipeline to outline priority projects over 5–10 years, giving private investors clarity on investment opportunities. Additionally, he called for investment roadshows to attract local and international partners.
In conclusion, Asenso-Boakye stressed that PPPs are not a “magic bullet” but a crucial tool for sustainable infrastructure development. “Mainstreaming PPPs is not just an option—it is an imperative if we are to close Ghana’s infrastructure gap and drive sustainable development,” he noted.
He urged the government to take decisive steps in integrating PPPs into Ghana’s national infrastructure strategy for long-term economic growth.
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