Government must mainstream public-private partnerships to bridge infrastructure gap – Asenso-Boakye

A former Minister for Roads and Highways/Works and Housing, Hon Francis Asenso-Boakye, has urged the government to take decisive action to mainstream Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) as a key strategy to address Ghana’s growing infrastructure deficit.

Speaking on the floor of Parliament, the Honorable Member commended the MP for Ofoase/Ayirebi, Hon Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, for his insightful statement on the role of PPPs in the provision of public infrastructure and services.

He noted that Ghana’s infrastructure needs far exceed available public funds, making it necessary to explore innovative financing models such as PPPs.

“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.

The former minister outlined key challenges hindering the success of PPPs in Ghana, including weak project preparation, bureaucratic delays, and regulatory uncertainties.

He emphasised 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 supported proposals 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 said.

The former minister also proposed the development of a National PPP Project Pipeline, which would provide a structured list of priority projects over the next 5–10 years, giving private investors clarity on available opportunities. He urged the government to conduct investment roadshows to attract both local and international partners.

In conclusion, he stressed that PPPs are not a magic bullet but a necessary 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 stated.

He called on the government to take decisive action in implementing these recommendations to ensure that PPPs become a fully integrated part of Ghana’s national infrastructure strategy for the benefit of the Ghanaian people.

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Reporting by Wilberforce Asare in Accra 

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