We’re boosting infrastructure financing — Minister

A Former Finance Minister and Economic Advisor to the President, Seth Terkper, has said that the government is implementing measures to boost infrastructure financing and sustainable development across the country. 

He mentioned innovative models such as public-private partnerships, infrastructure bonds, pension funds and capital market instruments which he said, would bridge the country’s infrastructure financing gap.

Mr Terkper added that sustainable infrastructure financing remained critical for the country’s ambition of attaining upper-middle-income status.

He was speaking at the 2026 FIDIC Africa Infrastructure Conference (FAIC) in Accra on Monday, on the theme: “Future ready infrastructure: Advancing Africa through sustainability and innovation.”

The conference was attended by policymakers, consulting engineers, investors and development partners from across the continent who discussed innovation, sustainability and financing for Africa’s infrastructure transformation.

Later at a Gala Dinner and Awards night, awards were presented to consulting engineers from Ghana and some African countries who had diligently served the association and FIDIC Africa.

Partnership

The Minister of Works, Housing and Water Resources, Kenneth Gilbert Adjei, called for partnerships, innovative financing and practical action to accelerate infrastructure development across Africa.

He said infrastructural development must go beyond policy discussions to solutions that improved lives of ordinary people.

Mr Adjei said that Africa’s rapid urbanisation, climate challenges and growing populations demanded urgent investments in resilient infrastructure.

“Infrastructure is not just concrete, steel and cables; it’s a mother getting her sick child to a clinic on time; it’s a young person in a village attending an online class; it’s a small business owner keeping the lights on. That’s what we’re really building,” he said.

The minister commended consulting engineers for their contribution to national development, describing them as the “quiet heroes” behind roads, water systems and energy infrastructure that improved lives daily.

“We want value for money, yes, but more than that, we want infrastructure that lasts, infrastructure that our children will thank us for, not curse us for,” he said.

Mr Adjei called on young professionals to take active roles in shaping Africa’s infrastructure future. 

Significance

The President of Ghana Consulting Engineers Association, Kwabena Bempong, said the conference provided a platform for African countries to collaborate on sustainable engineering solutions and future-ready infrastructure policies.

He said Africa’s infrastructure financing gap, estimated at between $130 billion and $170 billion annually, continued to hinder economic growth and access to essential services.

“Consulting engineers like you are absolutely critical to solving this. And this conference is exactly the platform where we can develop real, actionable solutions,” Mr Bempong said.

Resources

The Vice-President of FIDIC Global, Manish Kothari, described Africa as a continent rich in talent, youthful energy and innovation despite being disproportionately affected by climate change.

The President of FIDIC Africa, Qadri Sayed Rizwan, also called for stronger partnerships among governments, engineers, financial institutions, development partners and private sector actors to ensure infrastructure projects were properly designed, financed and managed.