Ghana is taking bold steps to strengthen infrastructure financing by working with development partners to establish an Infrastructure Credit Guarantee Scheme, a move expected to unlock long-term local currency funding for critical projects.
Nana Dwemoh Benneh, Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund (GIIF), announced the initiative at the International Building-Infrastructure & Investment Expo (IBIXPO 2025) in Accra.
He said the scheme would make it easier to engage pension fund managers and encourage them to channel part of their assets into financing Ghana’s infrastructure development.
“If we are able to do this, we can speak more directly to pension fund managers and encourage them to invest part of that pension money into project financing. That allows us to raise local currency for long-term infrastructure projects,” Mr. Benneh explained.
The initiative draws inspiration from successful models in Africa, particularly Nigeria’s InfraCredit and Kenya’s infrastructure financing schemes.
Nigeria’s InfraCredit, established in 2017 with an initial capital injection of $25 million, has since guaranteed 24 transactions, mobilising over NGN 200 billion (about US$130 million) in private investment with project tenors of up to 20 years.
Pension funds account for more than half of these investments, demonstrating the ability of such schemes to unlock large pools of domestic capital.
Ghana hopes to replicate and adapt this model to close its share of Africa’s estimated US$108 billion annual infrastructure financing gap.
Mr. Benneh emphasised that with global regulations limiting the amount of bank capital available for large projects, institutional investors, including pension funds, sovereign wealth funds, and insurance companies must become mainstream sources of infrastructure financing.
“It is imperative to mobilise institutional investment into infrastructure assets. This is the backbone for Africa’s regional integration, trade, competitiveness, and sustainable growth,” he noted.
Gizella Tetteh-Agbotui, Deputy Minister for Works, Housing and Water Resources, in her opening address, stressed the importance of public-private partnerships (PPPs) in delivering capital-intensive projects.
“Infrastructure requires joint efforts. We must deepen collaboration between government and the private sector to ensure effective execution,” she said, commending the objectives of IBIXPO 2025.
The three-day expo, themed “Building Resilient Infrastructure for Sustainable Growth & Regional Integration”, brought together policymakers, investors, industry leaders, and construction professionals from across West Africa.
It showcased innovative technologies, solutions, and case studies designed to inspire new approaches to infrastructure development.
Eugenia France of Image Consortium Limited, organisers of the event, said the programme was created to bridge knowledge gaps, foster partnerships, and unlock investment opportunities across the subregion.
Albert Mensah, CEO of Global Afrisino, highlighted the value of knowledge-sharing. “By spotlighting successful case studies and promoting dialogue, this expo inspires actionable strategies to build resilient and future-ready infrastructure systems,” he said.
Organised by Image Consortium in partnership with Global Afrisino under the auspices of the Ministry of Works, Housing and Water Resources and the GIIF, IBIXPO 2025 served as a platform to catalyse transformative infrastructure projects.
It also reaffirmed the role of innovation, sustainability, and regional cooperation in driving prosperity and improving the quality of life across West Africa.
