Ghana and Kuwait: A development partnership built on mutual respect, shared vision

As  part of its national vision for inclusive and sustainable development, the Republic of Gha­na has successfully forged strategic partnerships with several interna­tional development institutions.

Among the most longstanding and impactful of these is its col­laboration with the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED), which has, since 1977, supported the implementation of vital infrastructure and social projects across Ghana.

Established in 1961, the Kuwait Fund was the first development institution of its kind in the Arab world. It provides concessional loans and technical assistance to developing countries, with oper­ations spanning more than 100 nations in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Its mission is anchored in sustainable development, interna­tional cooperation, and respect for national sovereignty.

The relationship between Ghana and the Kuwait Fund has been marked by mutual respect and a shared commitment to develop­ment. The projects financed by the Fund in Ghana are aligned with the country’s national priorities, de­signed and led by the government to improve livelihoods and support long-term economic resilience.

Major projects funded by

the Kuwait Fund in

Ghana

Among the most prominent initiatives is the Dome-Kitase Road Rehabilitation Project, a 19.1-kilo­metre route that connects Accra to the Eastern Region. In September 2019, the Ghanaian government signed a financing agreement with the Kuwait Fund worth 7 million Kuwaiti Dinars (approximately US$23.8 million) to implement the project. Its objectives include easing traffic congestion, improv­ing connectivity, and supporting regional commerce.

In the education sector, the Fund supported the expansion and upgrading of 26 public senior high schools across Ghana. The proj­ect, backed by a loan agreement signed in October 2016 valued at 7 million Kuwaiti Dinars (around US$24 million), involved con­structing classrooms, laboratories, student dormitories, and adminis­trative blocks, thereby enhancing educational infrastructure and access.

Another key project was the Korle Lagoon Ecological Resto­ration, implemented in two phases in 1995 and 2000 with a total fund­ing of US$24.6 million from the Fund. The initiative contributed to improving environmental condi­tions and public health in Accra by addressing water pollution and urban waste challenges.

In July 2022, Ghana and the Kuwait Fund signed a strategic development partnership under the government’s “Ghana CARES” programme, with funding valued at 20 million Kuwaiti Dinars (ap­proximately US$70 million). The agreement focused on key areas such as agricultural production (es­pecially rice and poultry), irrigation infrastructure, the construction of three model senior high schools, technical and vocational educa­tion, and support for research and entrepreneurship.

Cumulative support and

national impact

Since the beginning of this collaboration, the Kuwait Fund has extended 11 concessional loans to Ghana, with a total value estimated at US$100 million. In addition, the Fund has provided three tech­nical assistance grants, valued at over GH¢11.5 million, to support feasibility studies, planning, and capacity building.

These projects have had tangible effects on the ground—improving roads, expanding access to quality education, advancing environ­mental protection, and promoting agricultural development. More importantly, they reflect the Gha­naian government’s ownership of the development agenda, ensuring that external financing directly supports local priorities.

A partnership of equals

Both the Ghanaian government and the Kuwait Fund have empha­sized that this cooperation is based on a spirit of partnership—not charity. The projects are selected and executed based on Ghana’s national development strategies, and the successful implementation has earned the country continued trust from international develop­ment partners.

The Kuwait Fund has consis­tently praised Ghana’s effective governance, transparency, and stra­tegic vision, which have made it a credible and capable development partner. Likewise, Ghana recogniz­es the Fund’s role as a responsive and respectful ally that supports initiatives without imposing exter­nal agendas.

Conclusion

The development partnership between Ghana and the Kuwait Fund represents a model of South–South cooperation built on shared values, mutual benefit, and long-term commitment. It demon­strates how international financ­ing, when aligned with national leadership and vision, can accel­erate meaningful progress toward sustainable development. As this collaboration continues to grow, it promises to deliver even greater impact for future generations of Ghanaians.

By Embassy of the State of Kuwait in Ghana