By Emmanuel AKOMEA
The Minister for Works and Housing, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, has highlighted lack of long-term financing as a critical obstacle hindering infrastructure development in the country and across Africa.
According to the minister, non-availability of long-term financing remains a major obstacle in addressing the infrastructure deficit. This, he said, is due to traditional lenders often struggling to offer loan products suitable for large-scale infrastructure investments.
The minister said this in a speech read on his behalf by the Director of Works at the Ministry, Ebenezer Mac-Tetteh, during the Water Africa and West Africa Building and Construction Exhibition and Seminar held in Accra, and revealed interventions to help mitigate the problem.
He described public-private partnerships (PPPs) as one of the means to bridge this gap. He added that his ministry has successfully utilised PPPs in projects like the Affordable Housing Project at Pokuase/Afiaman, showcasing a promising approach to address the housing deficit.
The minister emphasiesed the importance of collaboration and innovative ideas to tackle Africa’s infrastructure challenges, adding that the theme of the event, ‘Infrastructure and the Built Environment: Needs, Solutions, and Progress toward SDGs and AU’s Agenda 2063’, aligns with the continent’s vision for interconnected infrastructure that fosters sustainable development.
Highlighting the staggering annual infrastructure gap of US$100billion in Africa, he stressed the critical role water plays in infrastructure development. He noted that investing in water infrastructure alongside traditional projects is essential for building strong and sustainable communities.
The minister called for pragmatic policy recommendations and effective solutions to bridge Africa’s infrastructure gap and achieve the goals outlined in Agenda 2063. With a collaborative effort and focus on innovative approaches, African leaders can work toward a more prosperous future with inclusive and sustainable development, he added.
Deputy Minister of Sanitation & Water Resources, Amidu Issahaku Chinnia, in his remarks noted that efforts have been made to expand water supply systems, tackle sanitation issues and restore degraded water-bodies; however, challenges remain around water quality, access and sanitation.
He added that the ministry sees this event as an opportunity to forge strategic partnerships around governance, technology, innovation and capacity building to advance the sector.
An industry expert, Shane Soobramoney of Idexx Water, South Africa, emphasised the need for a top-down approach to address water issues, whereby government prioritises and supports the implementation of microbiological testing for water. By ensuring that water sources are regularly tested for contaminants, the risk of waterborne illnesses can be significantly reduced and ultimately improve public health outcomes.
Furthermore, he noted it’s important to create awareness about the types of rapid and automated tests that are available to test water quality. These advanced testing methods, he said, not only provide more accurate results but also offer quicker turnaround times; thus allowing faster responses to potential contamination incidents.
