World Bank Approves $500m to Improve Market Access in Ghana
The World Bank has approved US$500 million in financing for the Ghana Market Access and Connectivity Project (GMACP), a major infrastructure and agriculture-linked initiative aimed at improving rural road networks, strengthening value chains, and expanding economic opportunities across Ghana.
The project is expected to focus on reducing long-standing constraints in rural transport systems, where poor road conditions and weak maintenance regimes have limited farmers’ access to markets, increased transport costs, and contributed to significant post-harvest losses.
According to the World Bank, the intervention will support the rehabilitation and maintenance of key feeder roads in selected regions, improving all-season connectivity between rural production zones and major market centres. This is expected to ease the movement of agricultural produce, improve supply chain efficiency, and enhance income opportunities for rural households.
Robert Taliercio, World Bank Division Director for Ghana, Liberia and Sierra Leone, said the project is designed to strengthen both agricultural competitiveness and rural livelihoods.
“This project will improve access to markets and opportunities for rural communities while strengthening Ghana’s agricultural competitiveness and resilience,” he said.
He noted that more than 550,000 people are expected to benefit directly from the project, including about 350,000 farmers, 250,000 women, and 310,000 young people. In addition, the programme is projected to create over 5,000 direct jobs and more than 25,000 indirect jobs through construction and road maintenance activities.
Road Network Expansion Across Key Agricultural Zones
The Ghana Market Access and Connectivity Project will be implemented by the Ministry of Roads and Highways and will cover more than 1,000 kilometres of rural roads. The project will be executed across clusters in the Upper West, Northern, Savannah, Oti, Volta, Eastern, Ashanti, Bono, and Western regions.
These areas are key production zones for staple crops such as maize, rice, yam, and cassava, which form the backbone of Ghana’s food security system. However, limited road access has often restricted farmers’ ability to reach larger markets and fully benefit from their production.
By improving road connectivity, the project is expected to reduce transport costs, shorten travel times, improve reliability of supply chains, and expand market access for smallholder farmers. This is also expected to contribute to lower post-harvest losses and improved food availability.
Climate-Resilient and Sustainable Infrastructure Focus
The project incorporates climate-resilient design to ensure that roads and drainage systems can withstand long-term environmental and weather-related risks.
Sustainability measures form a key part of the intervention, including support for the operationalisation of the Road Maintenance Trust Fund and the introduction of performance-based contracts for road maintenance. These reforms are intended to ensure that rehabilitated roads remain functional well beyond the life of the project.
The World Bank also says it will provide technical assistance to strengthen institutional capacity within the road sector, with a focus on improving maintenance systems and long-term asset management.
Overall, the initiative is expected to play a significant role in boosting agricultural productivity, improving rural incomes, and strengthening Ghana’s broader economic resilience through better infrastructure and market access.
