The World Bank has approved $500 million in financing for the Ghana Market Access and Connectivity Project (GMACP). This major initiative will improve rural road connectivity and strengthen agricultural value chains in Ghana.
This funding aims to expand economic opportunities and create short-term direct jobs for rural communities. Poor road conditions have long hampered rural livelihoods, limiting market access and increasing transport costs. The project directly addresses these challenges by rehabilitating and maintaining critical feeder roads in selected regions.
Improved rural roads are crucial for Ghana's agricultural sector and overall economic development. Many rural areas, particularly those producing staple crops such as maize, rice, yam, and cassava, struggle with inadequate connectivity. This project aligns with Ghana's broader efforts to enhance food security and reduce poverty in farming communities.
Robert Taliercio, World Bank Division Director for Ghana, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, highlighted the project's impact. He stated, “This project will improve access to markets and opportunities for rural communities while strengthening Ghana’s agricultural competitiveness and resilience.” Mr. Taliercio added that over 550,000 people, including 350,000 farmers and 250,000 women, will directly benefit.
The Ministry of Roads and Highways will implement the GMACP project. It will support the rehabilitation and maintenance of more than 1,000 kilometers of rural roads. These roads span four clusters across the Upper West, Northern, Savannah, Oti, Volta, Eastern, Ashanti, Bono, and Western regions. These regions are critical for Ghana's food production.
Improved all-season access will reduce transport costs and shorten travel times for farmers. This change will also increase supply reliability and open larger markets to smallholder farmers. Ultimately, these improvements are expected to reduce post-harvest losses, strengthen agricultural value chains, and contribute to lower food prices. This will enhance Ghana’s food security.
The project anticipates generating more than 5,000 direct jobs and over 25,000 indirect jobs. These jobs will come from civil works and road maintenance activities. The GMACP incorporates climate-resilient design, ensuring roads and drainage systems can withstand future climate risks. This ensures the long-term sustainability of the infrastructure investments.
Sustainability is a core pillar of the project’s design. It will help operationalize the Road Maintenance Trust Fund (RMTF) and introduce Performance-Based Contracts for road maintenance. The project will also provide technical assistance to strengthen institutional capacity. This support ensures that rehabilitated roads remain functional beyond the project's completion, safeguarding the investment.