President John Dramani Mahama has announced that the government’s ambitious Big Push infrastructure programme will extend beyond roads next year to include major investments in health, education, agriculture, agribusiness, and sports.
Speaking at the launch of the Big Push with the cutting of sod for multiple road projects in Afienya on Tuesday, President Mahama explained that the expanded programme aims to fast-track Ghana’s economic transformation by opening up key sectors of the economy.
“Next year, we’re adding other sectors to the Big Push. This includes health, education, agriculture and agribusiness, and sports,” he said.
On agriculture, the President said government will construct irrigation systems to enable year-round farming, a critical step toward achieving food security.
“One of the reasons we are not able to achieve food security is that we farm for six months of the year and sit at home for another six. We want to transition to all-year-round farming.
That’s when we can assure food security for Ghana,” he stressed.
The programme will also target 166 constituencies identified as having the worst road conditions, with each expected to receive 10 kilometres of new roads, drains, and pavements annually for four years amounting to 40 kilometres per constituency.
In addition to new projects, President Mahama assured that road maintenance will receive unprecedented attention.
“Every year, the Ghana Road Fund will set aside about ¢5 billion for road maintenance alone, pothole patching, desilting, grass cutting, and other works to keep our roads in good shape,” he disclosed.
The President placed roads at the heart of Ghana’s transformation, citing the historical example of the United States.
“America became America because of the road and rail networks they built early, connecting the West Coast to the East Coast. That is when America opened up.
We need to open up our country with roads, railways, and aviation travel so that we can push our economic transformation forward,” he noted.
While some communities have raised concerns that their roads are not included in the Big Push list, President Mahama reassured them that other funding streams remain available.
“The Big Push does not take away our regular budget for roads. That will continue to cater for projects not captured under the Big Push,” he assured.
President Mahama commended the Minister for Roads and Highways, Governs Kwame Agbodza, and his team for their “diligent work” in packaging the programme, and promised Ghanaians a visible improvement in infrastructure over the next four years.
“From next year into 2027, we will see a big difference in the quality of roads in Ghana,” he said.
Story: Patrick Asford Boadu
