Limited funds force Big Push road projects into three phases – Mahama

President John Dramani Mahama has said limited public funds mean the government’s Big Push road programme will be implemented in three phases, with major trunk roads receiving priority.

He said the government could not tackle all Ghana’s road infrastructure needs simultaneously because of budgetary constraints.

President Mahama announced the phased approach while inspecting the Wa–Han road project on the first day of his two-day “Resetting Ghana Tour” of the

Upper West Region.

“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,” he said.

The President said the government had prioritised major trunk roads, particularly those connecting regional capitals, before moving to feeder roads linking communities and towns to the main network.

According to him, the strategy is intended to address the country’s road infrastructure deficit progressively as funding becomes available.

“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 said.

Trunk roads to come first

President Mahama said completing the main routes first would improve travel for residents of surrounding communities, even before their feeder roads were rehabilitated.

“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,” he said.

“After the trunk road is done, then we can now do the feeder roads into the communities and the towns.”

The President said several roads had been identified for construction in the Upper West Region but would be tackled gradually because of the financial limitations facing the government.

He did not provide details of the roads expected to fall under the second and third phases or indicate when those phases would begin.

Wa–Bolgatanga route to receive asphalt

President Mahama expressed confidence in the quality of work on the Wa–Han road and said he expected to return to the region next year to commission it.

“We’ll be here next year to come and commission the road, and I’m sure that the quality of the road will be good,” he said.

He also said the wider route from Wa to Bolgatanga would eventually receive an asphalt seal after the completion of double-surface dressing.

According to the President, the proposed upgrade is expected to extend the road’s lifespan and reduce the frequency of maintenance.

“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.

The phased rollout means communities waiting for feeder-road improvements may have to wait until work on the government’s priority trunk roads advances and additional funding becomes available.

The government has not yet provided the cost of the Wa–Han project, a detailed timetable for the Wa–Bolgatanga asphalt work or the full list of roads selected for subsequent phases.