Accra: Economist Professor Godfred Bokpin has raised concerns that recurring power outages and ongoing infrastructure challenges indicate Ghana is on a troubling path, warning that these issues are driving up business costs and diminishing investor confidence. His comments come in the wake of a widespread power outage that affected parts of Accra on Wednesday, July 29, 2026.
According to Ghana Web, Professor Bokpin, speaking at the Prudential Bank Business Seminar on Transforming Cross-Border Trade, labeled the extended electricity disruption in the national capital as unacceptable. He criticized Ghana's response to such disruptions, noting that the lack of reliable backup systems creates uncertainty for businesses and discourages investment. He questioned the state's preparedness and urged for a plan to prevent future occurrences.
Professor Bokpin further elaborated that the government's inability to provide essential services like electricity, water, healthcare, and education forces the private sector to fill the gap at a higher cost, thereby increasing financial pressure on households and businesses. He emphasized the critical role of the state in ensuring reliable power supply, highlighting its importance in maintaining investor confidence and economic stability.
In addition, he called for increased investment in infrastructure, suggesting that Ghana needs to allocate at least $10 billion annually over the next ten years to bridge its infrastructure deficit. He advocated for the utilization of public-private partnerships (PPPs) to fund significant infrastructure projects, moving away from a reliance solely on public funds.