The World Bank has approved a $500 million financing package for the Ghana Market Access and Connectivity Project (GMACP), a major initiative aimed at improving rural road infrastructure, strengthening agricultural value chains, and expanding economic opportunities for rural communities across the country.
Announced in Washington on May 28, 2026, the project seeks to tackle long-standing challenges caused by poor road networks and inadequate maintenance, which have hindered market access for farmers, increased transportation costs, and contributed to post-harvest losses in many rural areas.
Under the project, more than 1,000 kilometres of feeder roads will be rehabilitated and maintained across selected regions including Upper West, Northern, Savannah, Oti, Volta, Eastern, Ashanti, Bono, and Western regions. These regions are key producers of staple crops such as maize, rice, yam, and cassava.
The improved road infrastructure is expected to provide all-season connectivity between farming communities and major markets, enabling farmers to transport goods more efficiently, reduce losses, and access larger markets.
World Bank Division Director for Ghana, Liberia and Sierra Leone, Robert Taliercio, said the initiative would significantly improve livelihoods in rural communities while enhancing Ghana’s agricultural competitiveness and resilience.
According to him, the project is expected to directly benefit more than 550,000 people, including about 350,000 farmers, 250,000 women and 310,000 youth.
“It will also create more than 5,000 direct jobs and over 25,000 indirect jobs through civil works and road maintenance activities,” he stated.
The project will be implemented by Ghana’s Ministry of Roads and Highways and will incorporate climate-resilient designs to ensure roads and drainage systems can withstand future climate-related risks.
In addition to road rehabilitation, the initiative will support the operationalisation of the Road Maintenance Trust Fund (RMTF) and introduce Performance-Based Contracts for road maintenance to promote sustainability and ensure long-term functionality of the roads.
Technical assistance will also be provided to strengthen institutional capacity and improve road maintenance systems beyond the life of the project.
The World Bank said the intervention is expected to lower transportation costs, shorten travel times, improve supply reliability, reduce post-harvest losses, and contribute to improved food security across the country.
