Govt must mainstream private partnership to bridge infrastructure gap — Asenso-Boakye

A former Minister of Roads and Highways, Francis Asenso-Boakye, has urged the government to mainstream public-private partnerships (PPPs) as a key strategy to address the country’s growing infrastructure deficit.

Speaking on the floor of Parliament, Mr Asenso-Boakye commended the Member of Parliament (MP) for Ofoase/Ayirebi, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, for his insightful statement on the role of PPPs in the provision of public infrastructure and services.

He said Ghana’s infrastructure needs far exceeded 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,” the Bantama MP stated.

Key challenges

Mr Asenso-Boakye, who also headed the Ministry of Works and Housing during a part of the administration of the New Patriotic Party, outlined key challenges hindering the success of PPPs in the country, including weak project preparation, bureaucratic delays, and regulatory uncertainties.

He emphasised the need to strengthen the Project Development Facility, which provided 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.

The Bantama legislator further supported proposals for direct negotiations in cases where competitive bidding was impractical, provided that transparency and value-for-money principles were 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 to provide a structured list of priority projects over the next five to 10 years, giving private investors clarity on available opportunities.

He urged the government to conduct investment roadshows to attract both local and international partners.

Necessary tool

Mr Asenso-Boakye further stressed that PPPs were 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 became a fully integrated part of the country’s national infrastructure strategy for the benefit of Ghanaians.