According to the outgoing World Bank Country Director, Frank Pierre Laport, project funds that have been allocated to Ghana and have been not utilised will be sent back to Washington DC.
One of those projects which could potentially be affected is the E-Transform Project.
Driving The News
In a news interview, E-Transform project is scheduled to end in June 2024 and the funds which are to be utilised for the project are at risk of being taken back to Washington for other uses.
Digging Deeper
The outgoing director stated that there is a policy designed to compel countries to use funds allocated to them within a specific time, or lose it for re-allocation to other countries in need.
He disclosed that some important projects should have been executed but have delayed, after rescheduling and postponements.
“Our projects usually last up to 4 to 5 years, and normally it is extended for two to three years, but our management don’t like this anymore. The projects will not go beyond 10 years”, he stated.
E-Transform Project
Amongst the projects currently being undertaken under E-Transform include:
- National Identification System: Implementing a unique identification system for all citizens to improve service delivery and access to social programs.
- E-Payments Platform: Enabling online payments for government services and taxes.
- E-Health: Digitizing medical records and improving healthcare service delivery.
- E-Education: Developing online learning platforms and resources for schools and universities.
- E-Justice: Automating court processes and improving access to justice.
- Business Registration Portal: Streamlining the process of registering businesses online.
- Land Administration System: Digitizing land records and improving land management.
What Happens Next
Mr. Laporte stated that an agreement has been reached with the Ministry of Finance and Communications Ministry to address challenges that delay the government from accessing project funds.
“We are looking at the possibility of taking this money and putting it into other projects that will be of benefit to Ghana”.
By The Numbers
Mr. Laporte stated that the World Bank has disbursed $1.6 billion to Ghana over the past four years. These are funds that have been advanced to Ghana to support some projects in the economy.
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