EBID approves US$150m Ghana road infrastructure facility

The ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID) has approved new financing commitments exceeding US$510 million to support infrastructure, healthcare, renewable energy and private-sector development projects across West Africa, with Ghana securing a US$150 million credit facility for major road and bridge projects.

The approvals were granted at the development finance institution’s 100th Board of Directors Meeting, chaired by Dr George Agyekum Donkor, President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of EBID.

The package comprises more than €269.55 million and US$200 million in financing for strategic investments in Ghana, Guinea and Sierra Leone.

For Ghana, the Board approved a US$150 million credit facility for Maripoma Enterprise Limited to support the execution of eight strategic road and bridge projects. The projects form part of an estimated US$1.2 billion infrastructure portfolio aimed at improving connectivity and facilitating economic activity across the country.

The financing comes at a time when Ghana continues to prioritise transport infrastructure as a catalyst for trade, logistics efficiency and regional integration, with improved road networks expected to enhance access to markets and reduce travel times.

Beyond Ghana, Guinea emerged as the largest beneficiary of the latest approvals. The Board sanctioned €143.06 million for the construction and paving of the 84-kilometre Cissela-Banko-N’Dèma and Banko-Saraya roads, a project expected to strengthen transport corridors, facilitate trade and lower transportation costs.

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EBID also approved €65.87 million for the construction of a 200-bed regional hospital in Siguiri, a project expected to expand access to specialised healthcare services for more than 1.7 million people.

In the energy sector, the bank committed €60.62 million to the Tinkisso II Hydropower Project, which will have an installed capacity of 11 megawatts and generate about 48 gigawatt-hours of electricity annually, providing clean energy to more than 350,000 people.

In Sierra Leone, the regional lender approved a US$50 million subordinated loan facility for WAICA Reinsurance Corporation Plc to strengthen the company’s capital base and support financing for infrastructure, energy, transport and agriculture projects, while advancing environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards.

Commenting on the approvals, Dr Donkor said the investments would promote regional connectivity, improve access to essential services, support sustainable energy development and mobilise capital for private-sector growth across West Africa.

The initiatives, he noted, are aligned with the bank’s mandate of delivering development impact and improving living standards across the subregion.

The approved operations are also expected to support implementation of EBID’s Growth, Resilience and Optimisation (GRO) Strategy 2026-2030, which seeks to accelerate structural transformation across West Africa through catalytic investments.

According to the bank, the projects are designed to unlock productive capacity, stimulate private investment and strengthen economic competitiveness across member states.

EBID, headquartered in Lomé, Togo, serves as the development finance institution of the 15 ECOWAS member states and finances projects across infrastructure, industry, agriculture, social services and environmental sectors through public and private sector financing windows.