The Government of Ghana has indicated it spent GH¢448.6 million last year towards the delivery of programs under Goal 9 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which focuses on Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure and seeks to build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation.
Out of the total budget, GH¢ 54.2 million was allocated to programs at the MDA level. The rest of the GH¢394.3 million was also allocated towards the delivery of programs at the MMDA levels.
According to the Ministry of Finance (MoF), Statutory Funds were the main source of funding towards the delivery of programs under the SGD 9 last year. Funds from Statutory Funds amounted to GH¢277.6 million.
Other sources of funding include GH¢ 23.3 million from the government and GH¢ 49.7 million from the IGF. Also, Development Partners contributed an amount of GH¢ 97.8 million.
Specific Targets
A total of eight targets received funding under SDG 9 last year, namely 9.1, 9.2, 9.3, 9.4, 9.5, 9.a, 9.b, and 9.c. But, the MoF revealed that target 9.a received the most funding of GH¢225.9 million.
Furthermore, regional analyses revealed that the Ashanti, Greater Accra and Volta were the top three regions that received funding under this Goal. The three regions received corresponding amounts of GH¢ 83.5 million, GH¢56.5 million and GH¢ 51.4 million respectively.
National Perspective
In accelerating financing for infrastructure in the country, the Government seeks to combine various methods of financing including blended finance, and sovereign wealth funds. The aim is to strengthen the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund (GIIF) to promote infrastructural development.
Also, government has focused on the rehabilitation and expansion of rail networks to enhance public transportation. The government’s adopted strategy on railway development is the rehabilitation of the old narrow gauge line and the construction of new modern standard gauge line.
For instance, in January 2019, the Ministry of Railways Development launched the Accra-Tema train service. This, according to MoF, can transport up to 360 persons at a time making stops at various vantage points across the two cities.
Meanwhile, in the 2020 budget statement, the government outlined several measures towards building resilient infrastructure, promoting inclusive and sustainable industrialization. Also, some of these measures geared towards fostering innovation. Prominent among them was the President declaring 2020 as “the Year of Roads”.
One of the major construction works was Pokuase Interchange under the Accra Urban Transport Project. This involves the construction of a 4-tier interchange. According to MoF, progress currently stands at 74%. Also, the government has completed and commissioned the Tema Motorway Roundabout, a 3-tier interchange.
Automotive Manufacturing Development Policy
Moreover, the government has introduced a new comprehensive Automotive Manufacturing Development Policy. According to MoF, the Volkswagen Group rolled out the first VW locally assembled vehicle in response to this policy in March 2020.
Furthermore, the government has undertaken some projects under the Infrastructure for Poverty Eradication Program (IPEP). One of such projects was the provision of 35 prefabricated grain warehouses to the Ghana Buffer Stock Company.
Another project was the completion of 200 small earth dams mainly in the six northern regions under the “One Village One Dam” policy. Also, the MoF indicated that the government constructed 25 rural markets across the country. SDG 9 SDG 9 SDG 9
READ ALSO: Schools feeding coordinator’s dismissal, an error- Gender Minister
