Ghana's $10 Billion Projects Under Scrutiny as Delivery Remains Elusive

The Ghanaian government has a history of announcing large-scale projects, often totaling $10 billion, but failing to deliver on these promises. The most notable example is the STX deal, announced in 2009, which promised 200,000 houses in five years at a cost of $10 billion. Although Parliament approved the first tranche in August 2010, the project stalled due to boardroom wrangling and Ghana was left with significant financial losses, estimated to be over $300 million.

The STX deal was not an isolated incident. In 2013, the government announced the Hope City project, another $10 billion initiative, which promised six towers, 75 stories high, touted as the tallest in Africa. The project was launched with great fanfare, but 13 years later, not a single block has been laid. The site has been reclaimed by the bush, and the project's partner, rLG, is reportedly "dead".

The $10 billion figure has become a recurring theme in Ghanaian politics. In the 2020 NDC Manifesto, the party promised a $10 billion commitment to infrastructure development, covering roads, hospitals, and schools. This promise was repeated on various campaign platforms and was rebranded as the US$10 billion Big Push Infrastructure Programme in June 2026.

Most recently, President Mahama announced a US$10 billion New Economy Programme over four years, with $2 billion a year allocated to agriculture and industry. However, critics argue that these announcements lack substance, with no clear funding, financing structure, or investor list. The government's inability to deliver on previous projects has raised concerns about its credibility.

The government's failure to deliver on its promises has significant human costs. For example, 52,541 promoted teachers have not received their new salaries due to a lack of processed paperwork. Additionally, 80,000 teachers passed promotion exams, but only 6,000 were placed on scale. Newly recruited teachers from 2024 worked 17 months without pay, and various teacher unions went on strike in September 2026.

The Finance Ministry's response to the salary issues has been inconsistent, with different explanations provided for the delays. The Controller and Accountant-General cited missing forms, while the GES blamed a lack of financial clearance. The Ministry promised to start payments in May, then October 16, and finally, the end of October, but teachers are still waiting.

Critics argue that a government that cannot pay a teacher's GH¢3,500 monthly salary cannot credibly promise $10 billion investments. The opposition has called for the government to account for the $10 billion already announced, starting with the STX project. Ghanaians need to see tangible results from these projects, rather than just announcements.

Key points

• The Ghanaian government's repeated announcement of $10 billion projects without delivery has raised concerns about its credibility and ability to manage large-scale initiatives.