Africa-Press – Ghana. 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, rehabilitation of the Techiman-Wenchi-Bole-Wa-Hamile road and resurfacing 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.
The president indicated that those roads were part of priority roads under the Big Push Infrastructure Programme, which had a significant number of its priority projects in the road sector.
He added that some major roads in the Wa East, Nadwoli-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 get 15 per cent mobilisation to be able to mobilise to site.
“He has also assured me that any contractor on the Big Push projects who presented certificate for payment will be paid within two weeks of presentation of the certificate, so no contractor will have the excuse that he has not been paid”, President Mahama stated.
Other projects the President identified under the Big Push programme are the dualisation of major highways, including the Accra-Kumasi, Accra-Takoradi and Accra-Aflao roads.
Others were the Dambai Bridge, rehabilitation of the Buipe, Daboya and Yapei Bridges and construction of a new expressway between Accra and Kumasi.
Other interventions President Mahama mentioned included the construction and rehabilitation of small and medium-scale dams and subsidising farm inputs under the Feed Ghana and Agriculture for Wealth Creation agenda and the Mahama Cares programme, among others.
Under the Farmer Service Centre, President Mahama indicated that the first Centre would be established in Gwollu in the Sissala West District capital, 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 party during the 2024 general election, which led to his victory and the NDC having over two-thirds majority in parliament.
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