President John Dramani Mahama has reiterated his commitment to transforming Ghana’s infrastructure and economy through his ambitious Big Push programme, which he says will make the country a construction site for the next two years.
Speaking at Sawla in the Savannah Region, where he cut the sod for the reconstruction of the Wenchi–Wa and Fufuso–Sawla roads, Mr Mahama said the projects mark a new corridor of progress to reconnect regions, markets, and families.
According to him, the sod-cutting ceremony signifies the beginning of the rehabilitation of the Wenchi–Sawla–Wa road, a flagship project under his Big Push national infrastructure programme and a cornerstone of his proposed 24-hour economy policy.
“The Wenchi–Wa road is not an ordinary route. It is part of the National Route N12 and extends from Wenchi in the Bono Region through Bamboi, Banda Nkwanta, Tinga, and Sawla to Wa in the Upper West Region. Beyond Wa, it continues northwards to Hamile at our border with Burkina Faso.”
Mr Mahama noted that the 322-kilometre Techiman–Wa corridor, which includes 195 kilometres between Wenchi and Sawla, plays a vital role in Ghana’s agricultural and trade network.
“Every day, between 2,000 and 2,500 vehicles pass through this corridor carrying nearly 4,000 tons of grain, yams, cashew, and livestock from the middle belt to the north,” he said.
Describing the poor state of the road, he said travel time between Wenchi and Wa currently takes up to eight hours, while vehicle operating costs have increased by nearly 40 per cent.
“This is unacceptable in modern Ghana. That is why under the Big Push programme, we are committed to a comprehensive and modern rehabilitation of this corridor to restore safety, efficiency, and pride.”
The project, he explained, would involve complete pavement reconstruction, widening, drainage and culvert upgrades, and asphalt surfacing.
“It will not just be a bituminous surface; it’s going to be an asphalt road. We’ll have road signs, guardrails, and the road will be beautifully painted and marked so that everybody knows how to move on it,” he said.
Mr Mahama also announced that roads in Bamboi, Banda Nkwanta, Tinga, and Bole will be improved, with the Bole township road being converted into a dual carriageway.
“When completed, travel time between Wenchi and Wa will be cut by more than 50 per cent, vehicle operating costs will decline by more than 40 per cent, and road accidents will reduce by approximately 45 per cent,” he said.
He highlighted that the project will have far-reaching economic impacts: “Agricultural output and trade will rise sharply as farm produce reaches the markets on time. Beyond the numbers, this means a teacher will reach their posting without delay, a farmer will earn fairer prices, and a trader will be able to deliver their goods day and night.”
Mahama said the Big Push and the 24-hour economy are designed to ensure fairness and equity in development.
“It ensures that the north and south develop together, that the farmer in Sawla benefits from the same quality of roads as the trader in Tema,” he stated.
He urged contractors to engage local labour and suppliers: “If you need labour, take the local people. If you need food or water, our people here are enterprising enough. They can be your suppliers.”
Mahama also cautioned against practices that damage road infrastructure.
“Let us avoid overloading trucks and putting illegal speed ramps on the road. Speed ramps destroy the road because heavy trucks slow down and their weight spoils the surface,” he warned.
He expressed confidence in the contractors — including CIWE, Polychangda Overseas Engineering Company, China Railway No. 5 Engineering Company, and Ghana’s own Maripoma Limited — to deliver quality work.
“These contractors have been selected for their proven competence and integrity, and this government will not tolerate delays or shoddy work,” he stressed.
“With the start of the Big Push, the whole of Ghana is going to be a construction site for the next two years. I ask Ghanaians to be patient with us and accept the inconvenience because, after 24 months, you’ll have the best roads in West Africa.”
“What we’re starting here today is more than a construction project. It is a covenant of hope — a promise that this government will deliver not slogans but solutions, not excuses but excellence. From Wenchi to Sawla, from Bole to Wa, from Savannah to Accra, we are weaving our nation together, road by road, bridge by bridge, community by community.”
