Ghana Revives Strategic Infrastructure and Expands Logistics to Drive Regional Trade and Economic Growth

Ghana is making significant strides in its economic transformation agenda, marked by the revival of stalled multi-million dollar infrastructure projects and the expansion of its regional logistics capabilities. The government has taken urgent steps to secure funding for the completion of the Kumasi Central Market Phase II and the Takoradi Market Circle redevelopment, which were halted in 2024 due to financial constraints and debt restructuring. At the time of suspension, the Takoradi project was over 81% complete, while the Kumasi Kejetia Phase II site stood at 58%. These projects are seen as vital engines for local commerce, aiming to eliminate unsafe trading conditions and restore financial stability for thousands of local traders whose livelihoods were disrupted by the delays.

In the aviation sector, Air Ghana has bolstered its position as a regional logistics leader by taking delivery of its third Boeing 737-400 freighter. This expansion is specifically designed to meet the growing demand for air freight under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and positions Ghana as a central logistics hub. Concurrently, the Ministry of Transport is actively seeking a strategic private investor to revive the national airline, envisioning a commercially viable carrier based in Accra that includes long-haul, regional, and integrated cargo services. However, these ambitions face a challenging global environment; soaring jet fuel prices linked to Middle East tensions have forced airlines to cut approximately 13,000 flights globally in May, removing nearly two million seats from the market.

Beyond aviation, Ghana is aggressively pursuing maritime and bilateral trade opportunities to strengthen its economic footprint. New leadership at the Tema Shipyard and Drydock Limited is prioritizing modernization and strategic partnerships to reclaim West Africa’s maritime throne, addressing decades of underinvestment and skilled labor loss. On the international front, a high-level ministerial delegation recently visited Morocco to enhance ties in the automobile and agro-processing sectors. The mission focused on removing non-tariff barriers to facilitate smoother trade flows between the two nations, emphasizing the importance of intra-African investment forums to address existing trade imbalances.

While infrastructure and trade expand, the government and state agencies are also focusing on digital transformation and urban discipline. The Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) recently launched the "Experience Ghana" digital campaign to boost tourism visibility, capitalizing on the GHS6.69 billion currently generated by domestic travel. However, challenges in digital service delivery remain a hurdle, as evidenced by a prolonged outage of the Intercity STC online booking platform that has forced passengers back to manual ticketing. Additionally, the Tema Development Corporation (TDC) has issued a 30-day ultimatum for the evacuation of items from its maintenance yard and the settlement of outstanding ground rents, signaling a push for improved revenue collection and urban management as the country seeks to modernize its economic centers.