President John Dramani Mahama
President John Dramani Mahama has assured the chiefs and people of the Upper West Region of his commitment to rehabilitating and constructing major roads linking the region to the rest of the country.
He mentioned the construction of the Wa–Tumu–Navrongo trunk road, the rehabilitation of the Techiman–Wenchi–Bole–Wa–Hamile road, and the resurfacing of sections of the Sawla–Fufulso road.
“These roads will not only enhance trade and transport, but they will also stimulate cross-border business and revive economic activities,” President Mahama said.
The President gave the assurance in Wa on Thursday when he addressed the chiefs and people of the Upper West Region during his “Thank You” tour.
President Mahama commenced his tour with a courtesy call on Naa Seidu Fuseini Pelpuo IV, the Overlord of the Wala Traditional Area.
He indicated that these roads were part of the priority roads under the Big Push Infrastructure Programme, which has a significant number of its priority projects in the road sector.
He added that some major roads in the Wa East, Nadowli–Kaleo, Daffiama–Busie–Issa, and Sissala East Districts would also be upgraded to improve access to markets, schools, and health facilities.
President Mahama assured the people that funds were available for the projects, saying, “In a few months, you will see contractors on all these roads because the money has been provided in the budget.”
“This year, we set aside GHȻ14 billion for the Big Push programme, and the Finance Minister has assured me that all the contractors will receive 15 per cent mobilisation funds to enable them to mobilise to site.
“He has also assured me that any contractor working on Big Push projects who submits a certificate for payment will be paid within two weeks of submission, so no contractor will have the excuse of not being paid,” President Mahama stated.
Other projects identified under the Big Push programme include the dualisation of major highways such as the Accra–Kumasi, Accra–Takoradi, and Accra–Aflao roads.
Additional projects include the Dambai Bridge, the rehabilitation of the Buipe, Daboya, and Yapei Bridges, and the construction of a new expressway between Accra and Kumasi.
Other interventions President Mahama mentioned include the construction and rehabilitation of small- and medium-scale dams and the subsidisation of farm inputs under the Feed Ghana and Agriculture for Wealth Creation agenda, as well as the Mahama Cares programme, among others.
Under the Farmer Service Centre initiative, President Mahama stated that the first centre would be established in Gwollu, the capital of the Sissala West District, to fulfil a promise he made in 2016 to establish a mechanisation centre in that district.
The President expressed gratitude to the chiefs and people of the region for the overwhelming support they gave him and the NDC during the 2024 general election, which led to his victory and the NDC securing over a two-thirds majority in Parliament.