The Member of Parliament for Amenfi Central, Hon. Joana Gyan Cudjoe, has called for a balanced and strategic approach to financing Africa’s infrastructure development, urging African countries to leverage both Chinese loans and European Union grants to accelerate economic growth and improve livelihoods.
Hon. Joana Gyan Cudjoe made the call during the 2026 Africa Days Forum held in Brussels, Belgium, where she represented Ghana as part of the country’s delegation alongside the General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Hon. Fifi Fiavi Kwetey.
The forum brought together African political leaders, European Union policymakers, development partners, and other stakeholders to deliberate on critical issues including infrastructure financing, trade, investment, and partnerships aimed at advancing Africa’s sustainable development.
Speaking during a session on “Financing Africa’s Infrastructure Gap,” Hon. Joana Gyan Cudjoe stressed that Africa must adopt a pragmatic approach to securing development financing instead of waiting for what she described as “perfect” funding opportunities.
She stated that the continent should take calculated risks in accessing Chinese loans where the financing terms support projects capable of creating jobs, boosting local industries, and generating long-term economic value, while simultaneously maximising European Union grants and concessional funding to support sectors such as green energy, healthcare, and education.
According her, the focus should not be on avoiding risks entirely but on ensuring transparency, prudent negotiations, accountability, and tying borrowed funds to projects that deliver measurable economic returns and promote technology transfer and local participation.
She further noted that strategic financing decisions have direct implications for communities across Africa, explaining that investments in infrastructure such as roads, bridges, markets, and energy projects have the potential to transform local economies and improve the living conditions of citizens.
Her remarks generated discussions among participants, with many delegates agreeing on the importance of diversifying Africa’s sources of development financing while safeguarding the continent’s long-term economic interests through responsible borrowing and sustainable investment strategies.
The 2026 Africa Days Forum concluded with renewed calls for stronger and more balanced partnerships between Africa and the European Union to promote inclusive economic growth, sustainable infrastructure development, and mutually beneficial cooperation across the two continents.
Source: Newspyramid.com
