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In the years preceding the pandemic, Ghana recorded robust GDP growth, which jumped from 2.1% in 2015 to a high of 8.1% in 2017 at constant 2013 prices. Responsibility for the economy ultimately belongs to the government, and the country’s economic health in the coming years depends greatly on its ability to implement further fiscal consolidation. While Ghana weathered the Covid-19 pandemic better than many of its regional and income-level peers, this did not come without a cost. For instance, labour earnings fell during 2020-21 as many businesses closed. However, recent developments, such as campaigns to secure more foreign direct investment, bode well for the longer-term economic growth of Ghana. This chapter contains interviews with Yofi Grant, CEO, Ghana Investment Promotion Centre; Humphrey Ayim-Darke, President, Association of Ghana Industries; and Michael Oquaye Jr, CEO, Ghana Free Zones Authority.

The state of Kaduna was founded in 1912 by British colonial ruler Lord Frederick Lugard. Throughout its colonial history, it served as the political, administrative and economic centre of the north of Nigeria. As an academic centre with many tertiary educational institutions, Kaduna earned the nickname “the Centre of Learning”. In recent years state authorities have worked to develop Kaduna’s business climate. The Kaduna State Infrastructure Master Plan is the state’s long-term strategy for coordinated infrastructure development. The plan lays out interventions in the key sectors of transportation, housing, education, health, water and sanitation, and agriculture, with total projected expenditure amounting to N20trn ($53.4bn). The plan aims to ensure that Kaduna becomes a model for urban development by 2050 as it leverages its strategic location in the northern urban corridor. This chapter contains an interview with Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, Governor of Kaduna State.

While Nigeria has made notable progress on several major wellness indicators in recent years, the country is grappling with health and social consequences stemming from the Covid-19 pandemic, in addition to structural challenges related to its public health system and the rollout of universal health care (UHC). However, with Nigeria’s large and young population, the longer-term prospects for investment in the sector remain promising. As the government works to meet education financing needs, new opportunities are present throughout the sector, including improving infrastructure and providing modern teaching materials. Getting young children in school will require a multi-pronged approach by the public and private sectors in the coming years. It will become increasingly important for stakeholders to identify future industries for students to be trained in, which should help address the country’s high underemployment rates, in turn, transforming the Nigerian economy through sustainable progress. This chapter contains an interview with Moji Adeyeye, Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control.

Although transport networks have historically been underfunded, the government is prioritising their development, as enhanced connectivity is key to supporting growth in non-oil sectors. Demand for transport is set to rebound in the second half of 2021 as the economy reopens and the African Continental Free Trade Area is in force. The most significant gains in the coming years are expected in the road and port segments, with urban rail projects progressing more slowly. As Nigeria is the most populous country on the continent, investors continue to see notable potential in the transport sector but have traditionally been deterred from investing in other areas of the economy because of concerns about infrastructure capacity. As such, redoubled cooperation between the public and private sectors to develop multi-modal nodes will be crucial. This chapter contains an interview with Emmanuel Ezenwere, CEO and Founder of Arone.

Construction in Nigeria has recently been constrained by relatively low public investment and high operating costs. Moreover, its real estate sector experienced a challenging 2020, characterised by a drop in demand, movement restrictions and global supply chain disruptions. However, renewed prioritisation of infrastructure projects – particularly in energy, housing and transport – is expected to drive recovery as the country bounces back from the Covid-19 crisis. Looking ahead, one segment poised for growth is affordable housing. The authorities’ prioritisation of developing such units and facilitating cheaper mortgage options should help more residents become homeowners in the coming years. Overall, reducing dependence on imported building materials is key. While border closures and transit restrictions stalled building activity, it also prompted developers to source materials locally – a trend that is expected to continue. This chapter contains an interview with Babatunde Fashola, Minister of Works and Housing of Nigeria.