Member of Parliament Hon. Joana Gyan Cudjoe has called for a balanced approach to financing Africa’s infrastructure development, urging governments to make strategic use of both external loans and concessional funding while safeguarding long-term national interests.
She made the remarks during the 2026 Africa Days Forum held in Brussels, where she represented Ghana as part of the country’s delegation alongside the General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Hon. Fifi Fiavi Kwetey.
The forum brought together African leaders, European Union policymakers, development partners, and other stakeholders to discuss key issues including infrastructure financing, trade, investment, and Africa–EU partnerships.
Speaking during a session on “Financing Africa’s Infrastructure Gap,” Hon. Gyan Cudjoe said African countries must adopt pragmatic financing strategies to accelerate development.
“If we wait only for ‘perfect’ money, our roads, rail lines, hospitals and digital infrastructure will keep waiting too. We should take calculated risks in accessing China loans where the terms support projects that create jobs and local value. At the same time, we must leverage EU grants and concessional funding for areas like green energy, health and education,” she said.
According to the legislator, the focus should not be on avoiding risk entirely but on ensuring transparency, accountability, and value for money in financing agreements.
She stressed the importance of negotiating favourable terms, linking loans to projects capable of generating economic returns, and promoting technology transfer and local participation.
“For constituencies like mine in Ghana, the difference between a risk taken and an opportunity lost is a bridge built, a market connected, or a factory powered,” she told participants.
Her remarks generated discussion among delegates, many of whom highlighted the need for African countries to diversify their sources of development financing while maintaining fiscal sustainability and protecting their long-term economic interests.
The 2026 Africa Days Forum concluded with renewed calls for stronger and more balanced partnerships between Africa and the European Union to support sustainable development across the continent.
Source: Ekow Budu Sam