President John Dramani Mahama has said the government’s Big Push road projects will be implemented in phases, stressing that the government cannot undertake all the country’s road projects at once because of limits to the available budget.
Speaking on the first day of the two-day ‘Resetting Ghana Tour’ in the Upper West Region, where he inspected the Wa–Han Big Push road project, President Mahama said the government had to prioritise road projects as it works to address the country’s infrastructure needs.
“Everybody thinks that we can do all their roads at once. We cannot do that. There’s a limit to the budget that we have,” President Mahama said .
Trunk Roads First, Then Feeder Roads
The President explained that the government had prioritised major trunk roads, particularly those linking regional capitals, before moving on to feeder roads connecting communities and towns to the main road network.
“And so there’s Big Push Phase 1, we’re scoping Big Push Phase 2, and there’ll be a Big Push Phase 3,” he stated .
President Mahama said the decision to prioritise trunk roads was deliberate, arguing that completing the major routes would provide easier access for residents from surrounding communities.
“As we go, we’ll move from the trunk roads to the other feeder roads that link up with the trunk roads,” he explained. “But it’s good to do the trunk roads so that at least everybody can come from this constituency, join the main road, and have a good ride. After the trunk road is done, then we can now do the feeder roads into the communities and the towns” .
Wa-Han Road Prioritised for Regional Connectivity
The Wa-Han road, which connects the Upper West and Upper East regional capitals, was selected under Phase One of the Big Push programme because of its strategic importance .
“When we’re doing the selection of the Big Push projects, we prioritise roads that link regional capitals. And this is one of the roads that links the Upper East regional capital with the Upper West region. So it’s a very important road indeed,” President Mahama said .
He acknowledged that the poor condition of the road over the years had led to frustration and doubts about whether the project would ever be completed. However, he expressed confidence that ongoing works would significantly improve the route.
“I believe that today we can see that in just some months, that is, before the end of 2027, we will have a very comfortable ride between the two regional capitals,” he said .
Asphalt Sealing Planned for Long-Term Durability
President Mahama further disclosed that the road would eventually be sealed with asphalt from Wa to Bolgatanga following the completion of the double-surface dressing.
“After we do the double-surface dressing, we will then seal the whole road with asphalt from Wa to Bolga, so that at least we know that for the next 30 years, the road will last and will require just very little maintenance,” he said .
He expressed confidence in the contractor handling the project, describing the company as one of Ghana’s oldest construction firms with extensive experience on road projects in the Upper West Region .
Big Push Programme at a Glance
The Big Push Infrastructure Programme is the government’s flagship initiative aimed at accelerating national growth through large-scale investments in critical sectors, particularly road infrastructure. The programme is designed to open up deprived yet productive areas, boost local economies, support agriculture and trade, create employment opportunities, and promote inclusive development across the country .
According to Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, 87 transport infrastructure projects have commenced across all 16 regions under the programme, comprising 74 trunk roads and bridges, 10 urban roads, and three feeder roads. By the end of June 2026, 13 projects had reached at least 50 per cent completion, including six that had exceeded 75 per cent completion .
Major projects under construction include the Kasoa-Winneba, Takoradi-Agona Junction, Ofankor-Nsawam, Tepa-Goaso, Adentan-Dodowa, Tema-Aflao, Penyi-Aflao, Wenchi-Sawla, Atimpoku-Ho-Aflao, Tumu-Han-Lawra, Tumu-Navrongo, and Winneba-Cape Coast-Takoradi roads, as well as the Suame Interchange Phase II and the Sunyani, Tamale, and Kumasi Outer Ring Roads .
The government allocated more than GH¢13 billion in the programme’s initial phase, with a further GH¢30.8 billion committed this year, bringing total investment in the Big Push to over GH¢40 billion .
Anticipated Benefits
The completion of the Wa-Han road is expected to improve connectivity between the Upper West and Upper East programme regions and ease the difficulties faced by motorists and residents who rely, on the route . Across the broader the projects are expected to reduce travel time, lower transport costs, and improve access to education and healthcare .
The government has indicated that Phase Two of the Big Push programme will begin in the 2027 budget, with additional roads already being scoped for inclusion .
