The Member of Parliament for Amenfi Central, Hon. Joana Gyan Cudjoe, has reiterated the importance of taking calculated risks in securing loans and grants to finance government development projects.
She made the remarks at the 2026 Africa Days Forum in Brussels this week, where she joined Ghana’s delegation alongside the General Secretary of the NDC, Hon. Fifi Kwetey.
Hon. Joana Gyan Cudjoe, MP, Amenfi Central with Hon. Fifi Kwetey, General Secretary, NDC
The forum brought together African leaders, European Union policymakers, and development partners to discuss financing, trade, infrastructure, and strategic partnerships for Africa’s development.
Speaking during a session on *Financing Africa’s Infrastructure Gap*, Hon. Joana Gyan Cudjoe urged African governments to adopt a pragmatic approach to financing development.
According to her, Africa cannot afford to remain hesitant in accessing funding needed to bridge its infrastructure deficit.
“If we wait only for ‘perfect’ money, our roads, rail lines, hospitals and digital infrastructure will keep waiting too. We should take calculated risks in accessing China loans where the terms support projects that create jobs and local value. At the same time, we must leverage EU grants and concessional funding for areas like green energy, health and education.”
Hon. Joana Gyan Cudjoe, MP, Amenfi Central with other members of Ghana’s delegation
She stressed that the objective should not be to avoid risk altogether, but to manage it effectively by negotiating transparent financing terms, linking loans to projects with clear economic returns, and ensuring technology transfer and meaningful local participation.
“For constituencies like mine in Ghana, the difference between a risk taken and an opportunity lost is a bridge built, a market connected, or a factory powered.”
Her remarks sparked discussion among participants, many of whom agreed on the need for African countries to diversify their sources of development financing while safeguarding their long term economic interests.
The 2026 Africa Days Forum concluded with a renewed call for stronger, balanced partnerships between Africa and the European Union to accelerate sustainable development across the continent.
Story by Henry Eliud Yankey
