World Bank Highlights Challenges in Ghana’s Business Environment
The World Bank has raised concerns about the challenges facing Ghana’s business environment, which it says is hindering the country’s growth. Issues such as expensive and unreliable connectivity are driving up operating costs, disrupting markets, and making it harder to attract private investments.
During the launch of the 10th Ghana Economic Update in Accra, Robert Taliercio O’Brien, the World Bank’s Division Director for Ghana, Sierra Leone, and Liberia, emphasized that reforming the business landscape is crucial for Ghana. These changes are necessary to turn the country’s recent economic gains into lasting and inclusive growth.
“The current business environment is an obstacle to our growth potential. High costs and unreliable connections make doing business difficult, break up markets, and deter investment in the sectors outside of gold and cocoa that Ghana needs to grow,” he noted.
This assessment comes during a time when Ghana has seen improvement in various macroeconomic indicators. The economy grew by 6.0% in 2025, marking the fastest growth since 2019, and continued to accelerate to 6.4% in early 2026. Additionally, inflation dropped significantly from 23.2% in February 2025 to 4.6%, while public debt decreased from 70.3% of GDP in 2024 to 49% by the end of 2025.
However, the World Bank cautioned that these positive outcomes might be at risk if longstanding issues affecting businesses and investment are not resolved.
Transport Infrastructure Needs Attention
The World Bank also pointed out that Ghana’s transport infrastructure is another critical area in need of improvement. Inadequate connectivity is seen as a major factor that hampers productivity, competitiveness, and job creation.
The country has an extensive road network of approximately 94,200 kilometers, but only 27% of these roads are paved, with more than half in fair to poor condition. Feeder roads, in particular, are facing significant challenges.
Taliercio emphasized that the transport infrastructure should be looked at as part of a broader strategy for economic development in Ghana, not just as a construction issue. “This isn’t merely about building roads; it’s about growth, competitiveness, and creating jobs,” he stated.
The 10th Ghana Economic Update reviews the country’s recent economic performance and suggests policy measures that the World Bank believes could help sustain the recovery, tackle structural issues, and foster stronger growth led by the private sector.
