Former Minister for Roads and Highways/Works and Housing,Francis Asenso-Boakye, has called on the government to mainstream Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) as a strategic approach to addressing Ghana’s growing infrastructure deficit.
Speaking on the floor of Parliament, Asenso-Boakye commended the Member of Parliament for Ofoase/Ayirebi, Hon. Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, for his insightful statement on the critical role of PPPs in the provision of public infrastructure and services. He emphasized that Ghana’s infrastructure needs far exceed the available public funds, making it essential to explore alternative financing models.
“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 noted.
The Bantama MP, identified key challenges hindering the success of PPPs in Ghana, including weak project preparation, bureaucratic delays, and regulatory uncertainties. To address these issues, he stressed the need to strengthen the Project Development Facility, which provides early-stage funding and technical assistance for PPP project preparation.
Additionally, he called for a review of the PPP Act (Act 1039) to streamline approval processes and introduce clear timelines to prevent unnecessary delays. He also expressed support for direct negotiations in cases where competitive bidding is impractical, provided that 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 stated.
He further proposed the creation of a National PPP Project Pipeline, which would provide a structured list of priority projects over the next 5–10 years, offering private investors clarity on available opportunities. He also urged the government to conduct investment roadshows to attract both local and international partners.
In conclusion, he reiterated that while PPPs are not a one-size-fits-all solution, they remain 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 emphasized.
He urged the government to act decisively in implementing these recommendations, ensuring that PPPs become a fully integrated part of Ghana’s national infrastructure strategy for the benefit of the Ghanaian people.
Source: Oyerepafmonline.com
