By: Benjamin Nii Nai Anyetei
Ghana has taken a major step toward transforming its productive economy following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Hunan Architectural Design Institute Group to support large-scale infrastructure planning under the country’s 24-Hour Economy Programme.
The agreement, signed at the 24H+ Secretariat at the Office of the President, establishes a strategic partnership focused on spatial planning, infrastructure design, and technical collaboration to drive Ghana’s long-term industrialisation and export development agenda.
Central to the partnership is the development of the Volta Economic Corridor, a flagship initiative aimed at linking key production zones from Tema through Akosombo and the Afram Plains to Tamale. The corridor is envisioned as Ghana’s first net-zero green economic corridor, integrating agriculture, industry, and transport systems.
The collaboration draws inspiration from the transformation of China’s Hunan Province, once an agricultural hub but now a major industrial centre driven by deliberate investments in spatial planning and infrastructure. Authorities say Ghana is adopting a similar “planning-first” approach to ensure sustainable development.
Under the MoU, the Hunan-based institute will provide technical expertise in master planning and spatial design for development zones along the corridor. This includes the layout of agroecological parks, industrial parks, and critical infrastructure such as roads, water systems, and sewage networks, key elements required to attract investment and support industrial growth.
The agreement also introduces innovative financing models, including EPC+F and EPC+I frameworks, aimed at mobilising private sector funding for infrastructure development.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Presidential Adviser on the 24-Hour Economy and Accelerated Export Development, Augustus Goosie Tanoh, said implementation will begin with pilot projects, including two industrial parks and three agroecological parks along the corridor. He noted that the phased approach will help refine the model before scaling up.
Mr Tanoh added that the partnership will also focus on knowledge transfer, with Ghanaian professionals benefiting from Hunan’s experience, while Chinese partners gain insight into Ghana’s local context to ensure tailored solutions.
Chairman of the Hunan delegation, He Liu, expressed confidence in the initiative, highlighting its potential to drive job creation and industrial growth. He emphasised the importance of integrating key sectors such as education, agriculture, and health, while ensuring environmental sustainability, particularly the protection of water bodies.
The Volta Economic Corridor is projected to generate over 500,000 direct jobs, with feasibility studies for its transport systems already supported by the African Development Bank. The project also adopts an “energy-first” approach, with plans to deploy renewable energy solutions to reduce power costs and enhance Ghana’s competitiveness in manufacturing.
With the agreement now in place, focus is shifting to detailed engineering design and implementation, marking a critical transition from planning to execution in Ghana’s industrial transformation drive.
