Ghana

AFD is strengthening its longstanding partnerships with leading state-owned enterprises and investment funds in Ghana to support the country’s sustainable development ambitions. As part of these efforts, AFD has signed a credit line agreement with the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund (GIIF) to finance infrastructure projects with social and climate co-benefits, alongside technical assistance focused on building climate-related capacity. In the energy sector, AFD supports public utilities such as GRIDCo and NEDCo to strengthen regional energy security. This includes the construction of the 330 kV Kumasi–Bolgatanga transmission line and associated substations, as well as the upgrade of the 161 kV Kumasi–Anwomaso line.

People’s daily lives are considerably improved. The “Sustainable Cities” project, Tamale Urban Resilience, co-financed by the EU, is supporting approximately 10,000 residents in four neighborhoods of Tamale to better cope with rapid urbanization and climate-related challenges such as heatwaves and flooding. The initiative invests in the creation of green public spaces, improved sanitation, enhanced flood management infrastructure, and strengthened local governance. The Kumasi Road and Drainage Extension Project (KREDP) is contributing to improved mobility and greater flood resilience in Ghana’s second-largest city. Through the upgrading of roads, walkways, and drainage systems, the project helps reduce travel time, improve access, and protect vulnerable communities. The construction of a new minibus station to replace an informal terminal further streamlines public transport.

AFD supports inclusive rural development in Northern Ghana, a region facing both socio-economic challenges and climate vulnerability. The Agricultural Water Management Project (AWMP) aims to increase the revenues of 6000 farming households by rehabilitating and building small-scale irrigation infrastructure, such as dams and boreholes. The Better Farming in Northern Ghana (BETTER) project promotes sustainable agriculture by strengthening key value chains (shea, vegetables, soya, and beekeeping) while empowering women and youth. 

AFD also partners with NGOs through initiatives such as the GAIM Project, led by Max Havelaar and FairTrade Africa, which is converting cocoa production into dynamic agroforestry systems to improve food security. The PARCS project, led by Acting for Life, enhances social cohesion in cross-border areas of Ghana, Togo, Benin, and Burkina Faso by supporting sustainable livelihoods and environmentally responsible practices.

AFD is helping to strengthen Ghana’s economy and vibrant entrepreneurial culture by creating sustainable jobs and promoting the socio-economic inclusion of the most vulnerable—particularly through a gender-transformative approach aimed at reducing gender inequalities and supporting women-led MSMEs.

The Cultural and Creative Industries sector is also thriving in Ghana and plays a key role in driving social inclusion, innovation, and youth employment, an area in which AFD has been increasingly active in recent years. A cooperation project between France and Ghana is also contributing to the growth of the music industry by strengthening copyright protection and building professional skills in music publishing. The initiative also includes prefeasibility studies to preserve and enhance the "Pavillon Rond," a heritage site, with the aim of transforming it into a cultural music venue.

Beyond operational activities on the ground, the partnership between Ghana and AFD is also reflected in an ongoing dialogue on public policy. 

Since 2020, the State Interests and Governance Authority (SIGA), the Public Investments and Assets Division (PIAD) of the Ministry of Finance, and AFD (with the technical expertise of Expertise France) have worked closely together through the Ghana SOEs Oversight, Reforms, and Governance (GHASORG) project to strengthen governance and efficiency in the public sector, with the aim of enhancing the oversight, transparency, and performance of State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) in line with Ghana’s broader public sector reform agenda.

In the energy sector, technical cooperation has been established to support a low-carbon energy transition. This shared focus on climate-related issues is also reflected in the joint Global Shield against Climate Risks initiative, which aims to strengthen the financial protection of countries and populations most vulnerable to climate risks by facilitating access to pre-arranged and automatically triggered financing mechanisms in the event of disasters.

In partnership with the Bank of Ghana, AFD is financing a study, which addresses the financial stability challenges posed by the global transition to a low-carbon economy, as well as the physical risks associated with climate change.