Ghana now sovereign shareholder in AFC

Ghana has marked its 7th anniversary as a Member State of Africa Finance Corporation (AFC).

As it marked its seventh year, Ghana has also become a sovereign shareholder in the Corporation, by making an initial equity investment of US$10 million in Nigeria.

The Government of Ghana has also committed to invest a further US$40 million in the Corporation; representing the second tranche of its U$50 million commitment to purchase AFC equity.

Ghana has been a Member State of AFC since February 2011.

Investments in the equity of AFC can be made by its Member States, by international organizations, as well as by private sector corporations.

Andrew Alli, President and Chief Executive Officer of AFC in his remarks said "This investment not only strengthens the partnership between AFC and Ghana, it also serves as an acknowledgement of AFC's efforts thus far in the development and financing of infrastructure in Africa and acts as an incentive for AFC's continued commitment to infrastructure development in Ghana".

The Deputy Minister of Finance, Charles Adu Boahen, said AFC remains an infrastructure development partner of choice for the Government of Ghana. “The Corporation has proven its commitment to the socio-economic development of the country, in particular; in addition to its growing presence across the continent and stands as a beacon of Corporate Pan-Africanism.” He added that Ghana strongly encourages other African nations to invest in AFC to enhance the fulfillment of her mandate, to facilitate the continuous delivery of sustainable infrastructure assets and projects in the countries and the respective regions.

Over the past 10 years, AFC has mobilized more than US$1.2 billion of investments into Ghana. Notable investments made by AFC in Ghana include:

The US$900 million to finance the 350MW Cenpower Kpone Independent Power Plant which has created direct employment for over 1,550 Ghanaians during construction, and is scheduled for commissioning in Q2 2018. AFC is the lead developer of this project and the largest shareholder in the development company - Cenpower;

Also the provision of US$60 million to Volta River Authority (VRA) to finance the completion of the 220MW Kpone Thermal Power Plant and the conversion to gas of the 80MW Mine Reserve Plant in Tema, to help address electricity shortages in Ghana.

AFC has also made provision of a corporate loan of US$60 million to VRA to finance its operations;

It also financed US$50 million as part of the US$400 million syndicated facility to Ghana Airport Company Limited for the expansion of Kotoka International Airport and other airports in Ghana;

The US$50 million promissory notes funding for the construction of Regional Hospitals (Euroget);

It provided US$50 million in financing of the Jubilee Oil Field development and a loan for the project development of the Atuabo Freeport.

AFC also helped in the provision of trade finance primarily for oil importation.

AFC is also the largest shareholder in the US$240 million Main One Fibre-Optic Cable Project which enhances Ghana's connectivity to the rest of the world through faster and more technologically advanced broadband capacity.

Given the Corporation's track record in Ghana, AFC was also awarded a mandate by the West Africa Power Pool (WAPP) to develop another major 450MW Power Plant in the Western Region of Ghana.