Ghana Secures US$12.83m AfDB Grant for Big Push Project Studies

Ghana has secured a US$12.83 million grant from the African Development Bank (AfDB) to finance feasibility studies for a number of priority infrastructure and agro-industrial projects under the government’s flagship Big Push programme, Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson has announced.

Dr. Forson disclosed in a post on his official X (formerly Twitter) page on Tuesday that he had signed the grant agreement earlier in the day, describing it as a critical step toward accelerating the preparation of key national projects for construction.

According to him, the grant will fund detailed feasibility studies, including full engineering designs, cost estimates, and environmental and social impact assessments, to ensure the projects are fully developed and construction-ready.

“The aim is to complete these studies early enough to allow construction to begin soon,” the Finance Minister said.

The projects to benefit from the AfDB-supported studies include a proposed interchange at the 37 Military Hospital in Accra, a location widely regarded as one of the capital’s most congested traffic corridors.

In addition, feasibility work will be undertaken for the redevelopment of four major markets—Agbogbloshie Market in Accra, Techiman Market in the Bono East Region, Sekondi Market in the Western Region, and Mankessim Market in the Central Region. These markets serve as important commercial hubs for trade, food distribution, and informal sector employment.

The grant will also support preparatory studies for Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZs) to be established in Afram Plains, Nsawam, and Builsa. The SAPZ initiative is intended to boost agro-processing, reduce post-harvest losses, create jobs, and add value to agricultural produce in strategic farming belts across the country.

Dr. Forson expressed appreciation to the African Development Bank for its continued partnership with Ghana, singling out the Bank’s Country Manager, Ms. Eyerusalem Fasika, for her role in supporting the initiative.

“I am grateful to the African Development Bank and its Country Manager, Eyerusalem Fasika, for their strong partnership and continued support,” he stated.

The Big Push programme forms a central pillar of the government’s infrastructure development agenda, aimed at stimulating economic growth through large-scale public investment in transport, markets, and industrial infrastructure. Officials argue that completing comprehensive feasibility and impact studies upfront will reduce project delays, improve value for money, and enhance investor confidence.

The AfDB-backed grant is expected to strengthen Ghana’s project preparation capacity and fast-track the transition from planning to implementation, as the government seeks to kick-start construction activity and drive job creation across multiple sectors of the economy.

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