The World Bank has approved a $500 million financing package for Ghana under the Ghana Market Access and Connectivity Project (GMACP), a major initiative aimed at improving rural road infrastructure, strengthening agricultural value chains, expanding economic opportunities, and creating thousands of jobs across the country.
The approval comes as Ghana continues efforts to improve connectivity between rural farming communities and major markets, addressing longstanding challenges that have hindered agricultural productivity and rural economic growth. Poor road conditions and inadequate maintenance have for years limited access to markets, increased transportation costs, and contributed significantly to post-harvest losses among farmers.
According to the World Bank, the project will directly address these challenges by rehabilitating and maintaining critical feeder roads in selected regions, ensuring all-season access between production centres and key commercial hubs. The intervention is expected to enable farmers to reach buyers more efficiently, reduce travel times, lower transport costs, and improve the reliability of supply chains.
The project will support the rehabilitation and maintenance of more than 1,000 kilometres of rural roads across four clusters covering the Upper West, Northern, Savannah, Oti, Volta, Eastern, Ashanti, Bono, and Western regions. These areas are among Ghana’s major producers of staple crops such as maize, rice, yam, and cassava, which are critical to national food security but continue to face logistical constraints due to poor road networks.
World Bank Division Director for Ghana, Liberia and Sierra Leone, Robert Taliercio, said the project would strengthen Ghana’s agricultural competitiveness while improving opportunities for rural communities.
“This project will improve access to markets and opportunities for rural communities while strengthening Ghana’s agricultural competitiveness and resilience,” Taliercio stated. He added that the initiative is expected to directly benefit more than 550,000 people, including approximately 350,000 farmers, 250,000 women, and 310,000 young people.
Beyond improving transportation, the project is expected to create substantial employment opportunities. World Bank estimates indicate that more than 5,000 direct jobs and over 25,000 indirect jobs will be generated through civil works, road maintenance activities, and related economic opportunities along agricultural value chains.
The Ministry of Roads and Highways will oversee implementation of the project, which also incorporates climate-resilient infrastructure designs. These measures are intended to ensure that roads and drainage systems can withstand climate-related risks and remain functional over the long term.
A key feature of the project is its focus on sustainability. The GMACP will support the operationalisation of Ghana’s Road Maintenance Trust Fund and introduce Performance-Based Contracts for road maintenance. Technical assistance will also be provided to strengthen institutional capacity and ensure that rehabilitated roads remain in good condition long after construction works are completed.
The approval comes at a time when Ghana’s economy has shown signs of improving macroeconomic stability. The World Bank recently noted that stronger agricultural performance, robust gold exports, and fiscal discipline have contributed to economic growth and improved resilience. The GMACP is expected to complement these gains by enhancing rural productivity and supporting food security across the country.
Analysts believe the project could significantly reduce post-harvest losses, improve incomes for smallholder farmers, and lower food prices through more efficient transportation and distribution systems. Improved road connectivity is also expected to facilitate access to schools, healthcare facilities, and other essential services for rural populations.
With agriculture remaining a major employer in Ghana and a critical contributor to national development, the $500 million investment represents one of the most significant recent efforts to improve rural infrastructure and unlock economic opportunities in underserved communities. The project is expected to play a crucial role in connecting producers to markets, strengthening supply chains, and supporting inclusive growth across the country.