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President John Dramani Mahama has defended his administration’s decision to execute the flagship “Big Push” infrastructure program in distinct stages, emphasizing that fiscal realities prevent the government from reconstructing all major road networks simultaneously.
Speaking in the Upper West Region during the opening leg of his two-day regional tour, President Mahama inspected progress on the Wa–Han road construction site and called for public patience as the government prioritizes high-impact transport corridors.
Addressing local leaders and residents, the President clarified that resource allocation requires a strategic sequence to ensure maximum economic impact while remaining within national spending limits.
“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 stated, outlining that the initiative has been structured into Phase 1, Phase 2, and Phase 3.
Focus on Major Arterial Highways
The President explained that the government’s strategy prioritizes major trunk roads particularly key arterial corridors connecting regional capitals and commercial hubs before deploying resources to feeder roads that link smaller farming communities to primary networks.
He noted that completing the primary trunk routes provides immediate relief to commuters from surrounding constituencies, allowing rural traffic to access smooth primary highways while secondary connecting roads are scoped for subsequent phases.
President Mahama indicated that additional priority routes across the Upper West Region have already been cataloged for execution under future phases of the infrastructure drive.
Durability Standards and Project Timelines
Inspecting the engineering works on the Wa–Han stretch, President Mahama expressed satisfaction with the technical standards on-site and projected that the segment will be ready for official commissioning within a year.
He further disclosed that following the initial double-surface dressing, the entire highway from Wa to Bolgatanga will receive a complete asphalt overlay to guarantee long-term durability.
The President emphasized that asphaltic sealing will extend the lifespan of the highway to at least thirty years, significantly reducing routine maintenance costs and ensuring a reliable economic link across the northern belt.