Mahama Launches 30-Year Infrastructure Plan Inspired by Nkrumah’s Vision

President John Dramani Mahama has launched the Ghana Infrastructure Plan (GIP) a 30-year development framework designed to transform the country’s infrastructure landscape and guide national growth through to 2057.

The plan, developed by the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC), outlines Ghana’s long-term vision for infrastructure development, serving as the foundation for the country’s social and economic transformation.

Speaking at the launch, President Mahama said the event marked more than just the unveiling of a document, describing it as a continuation of Ghana’s historical pursuit of progress.

“Today, we gather not just for a launch, but to rekindle a vision,” he said. “This is a journey that began over a decade ago when I had the honour, as President, to initiate the development of a long-term infrastructure plan for our beloved country.”

He described the GIP as a bold, forward-looking blueprint that outlines how Ghana will design, finance, and implement infrastructure projects to enhance the quality of life and drive sustainable economic growth.

President Mahama anchored the plan in the legacy of Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, recalling the visionary leader’s Seven-Year Development Plan of 1963, which sought to industrialise Ghana and lay the foundations for self-reliance.

“Dr Nkrumah recognised that infrastructure was the foundation of a modern, industrialised, and self-reliant nation. His vision was bold, patriotic, and transformative — and it remains timeless even today,” he stated.

However, Mahama acknowledged that Ghana’s infrastructure development has often been undermined by inefficiency and fragmentation. Citing the 2024 National Annual Progress Report by the NDPC, he revealed that the country has incurred over $70 billion in cost overruns across 18,000 capital projects, many of which have suffered delays or abandonment.

“We must reflect on the painful truth that, despite our ambition, infrastructure delivery has often been fragmented, politicized, and inefficient. We inherited Nkrumah’s dream, but we have yet to fulfil its promise,” he admitted.

The President said the GIP marks a strategic reset, aligning Ghana’s development agenda with the Big Push Agenda, the African Union’s Agenda 2063, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

He explained that the plan introduces a new integrated planning model designed to promote balanced regional development and ensure equitable access to opportunities for all citizens.

President Mahama also noted that the GIP was originally completed in 2016 and revised in 2019 but was shelved for several years. Its relaunch, he said, reaffirms his administration’s commitment to continuity and long-term national transformation.

“Let us not just build roads and bridges,” he urged, “but a Ghana that works for everyone — where vision meets discipline, and where continuity, transparency, and innovation light the path to our shared future.”