The New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Upper East Region has challenged the region’s 15 Members of Parliament to explain why they failed to secure the region’s inclusion in the US$500 million Ghana Market Access and Connectivity Project (GMACP), a major World Bank-funded initiative designed to improve farm-to-market road infrastructure across Ghana.
Addressing a press conference in Bolgatanga, the party’s Regional Communications Directorate said the omission raises serious concerns about the level of advocacy by the Upper East Parliamentary Caucus on matters affecting the region’s development.
The challenge follows Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson’s request to Parliament for approval, under Article 181 of the 1992 Constitution, of a US$500 million International Development Association (IDA) credit facility from the World Bank to finance the project.
The initiative, approved by the World Bank Board in May 2026, forms part of Ghana’s broader strategy to rehabilitate deteriorating feeder roads, strengthen agricultural value chains, improve market access and reduce post-harvest losses. The total project cost is estimated at US$523 million, comprising US$500 million in IDA financing and US$23 million in Government of Ghana counterpart funding.
Under the project, approximately 1,050 kilometres of climate-resilient feeder roads will be rehabilitated across selected agricultural districts using a multi-criteria framework that considers road conditions, agricultural production, food insecurity and market connectivity.
The project is expected to benefit hundreds of thousands of farmers by reducing transport costs and improving year-round access to markets.
However, despite the project’s emphasis on boosting agricultural productivity, the Upper East Region was excluded from the list of beneficiary regions.
Reading the press, the Commuincation Officer of the NPP, Peter Ayinbisa argued that parliamentary representation goes beyond debating bills.
“The mandate of Members of Parliament equally demands effective lobbying, strategic engagement with government and relentless advocacy for development projects that improve the welfare of the people they represent,” he stated.
According to him, the exclusion is difficult to justify given the region’s strategic contribution to Ghana’s food production.
He cited Builsa South, one of the country’s major rice and maize-producing districts, as well as farming communities across Bongo, Bawku Municipality, Bawku West, Binduri, Garu and Pusiga, where poor feeder roads continue to increase transportation costs, reduce farmgate prices and limit access to markets, particularly during the rainy season.
The party has therefore called on the Upper East Caucus in Parliament to publicly account for the efforts they made to ensure the region benefited from the project.
Beyond Parliament, he appealed to the Upper East Regional Minister, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives, traditional authorities, civil society organisations, the media and youth groups to unite in advocating for a review of the beneficiary list.
Source: bolgafmonline.com|102.7 MHz| Bolgatanga
