Ghana has been ranked 7th globally among the largest beneficiaries of World Bank funding, receiving a total of US$11.2 billion in International Development Association (IDA) support from 1961 to 2024.
This significant financial assistance underscores Ghana’s strategic importance in global development efforts and its commitment to leveraging international resources for national growth.
Leading the list of IDA beneficiaries are Ethiopia (US$23.4 billion), Nigeria (US$18.8 billion), and Vietnam (US$18.5 billion), ranked 1st, 2nd, and 3rd respectively.
Ghana ranks just ahead of China, which is 8th with IDA funding of US$10.2 billion.
Notably, eight of the top 10 recipients are from Sub-Saharan Africa, reflecting the region’s substantial focus on global poverty alleviation initiatives.
Since its inception in 1960, the IDA—the World Bank’s arm dedicated to aiding the world’s poorest nations—has disbursed over US$287 billion to address critical development challenges.
African countries have been the primary beneficiaries, accounting for approximately 73% of total IDA funding (US$210 billion).
This significant allocation highlights the continent’s developmental needs and the IDA’s mission to promote equitable growth and opportunity.
East Asia is the second-largest recipient region, with US$41.8 billion (14.5%), while Europe and Central Asia received US$17.5 billion (6.1%).
Latin America and the Caribbean have benefited from US$11.2 billion (3.9%), and the Middle East received the least, totalling US$7.1 billion (2.5%).
The IDA’s targeted funding has played a pivotal role in supporting vulnerable populations, reaching underserved areas, and building resilience in nations like Ghana, which continues to maximise these resources to drive sustainable development.