A Ghanaian minister has said that Africa needs to prioritise infrastructure development as a stepping stone to achieving the continent’s collective growth and development agenda.
Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah, Minister for Works and Housing, made this call on Wednesday in his keynote message read for him at the opening of the 2024 edition of the Water Africa and West Africa Building and Construction Exhibition and Seminar ongoing in the Ghanaian capital of Accra.
“Inadequate infrastructure has undeniably hindered our continent’s growth and development,” the minister stated.
With reference to data from the World Bank Group, Oppong-Nkrumah said the continent’s annual infrastructure financing gap stands at an average of 100 billion U.S. dollars.
He said this gap translates into limited access to clean water, reliable energy, and efficient transportation systems, which constitute the fundamental building blocks of a thriving society.
The minister added that the continent’s development blueprint, known as Agenda 2063, is a clarion call for investment in bridging the wide infrastructure gap.
“The Africa We Want agenda, envisioned by Agenda 2063, demands a continent interconnected by world-class infrastructure that fosters inclusive and sustainable development,” Oppong-Nkrumah stressed.
He urged that discussions on infrastructure should also include acknowledging the critical role of water in infrastructure development, manufacturing, and everyday life.
“Investing in water infrastructure, including treatment, distribution, and sanitation systems, goes hand-in-hand with building strong and sustainable infrastructure.”
“By prioritizing water alongside traditional infrastructure projects, we can guarantee the health and well-being of our communities for generations to come,” the minister added.
The theme for the three-day event is “Infrastructure and the Built Environment: Needs, Solutions, and Progress towards the SDGs and the AU’s Agenda 2063.”
There will be panel discussions on the theme, “Innovation in Building and Construction—Addressing Housing Deficits.”