Multinational - The Road Programme I (Supplementary Loan)

The Government of Ghana (GOG) has been implementing major road improvement programmes as a part of its transport policy, which included construction, rehabilitation/reconstruction and maintenance of rural, trunk and urban infrastructure. The importance attached to the road network is mainly to (i) reduce the waiting and travel times (ii) improve the transport services, with consequent reduction in poverty and developmental impact in all parts of the hinterland, and (iii) enhance regional integration and cooperation between Ghana and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). In recognition, donors actively participated in the formulation of Road Sector Development Programmes, such as Highway Sector Investment Programme (1996- 2001), Road Sector Development Programmes, RSDP (2002- 2008), the aim of which was to contribute to poverty reduction by improving sustainable road access to all rural and urban areas of the country. Major donors including the Bank Group, World Bank, EU, KfW and DFID provided financial assistance in the implementation of the projects under the programmes. The importance of transport infrastructure is highlighted in Ghana’s Growth and Poverty Reduction Strategy (GPRS II, 2006-2009) as an enabler for economic growth and poverty reduction. As a follow up, Government is now implementing a “Transport Sector Development Programme (TSDP)” for the next five years (2008- 2012) estimated at USD 4.82 billion (of which US$ 3.1 billion is allocated to the Roads sub-sector) which again aims at an integrated, efficient, cost-effective and sustainable transportation system supporting growth, poverty reduction and promoting regional integration.