President Mahama’s Infrastructure Plan: Connecting Regional Capitals f

President John Dramani Mahama has reiterated his government's commitment to connecting regional capitals with quality infrastructure. He made the statement during a two-day working visit to the region, where he inspected ongoing construction works on the Chuchuliga-Chiana section of the Chuchuliga-Tumu-Wa road.

Big Push Road Programme: A Priority for Regional Capitals

The government's "Big Push" road programme aims to link all regional capitals with good roads as part of efforts to improve connectivity and facilitate economic activities across the country. According to President Mahama, the programme will prioritize major roads linking regional capitals, while ensuring that major districts also benefit from road improvements.

President Mahama said, "Our intention is to link all the regional capitals to each other with good roads. And then also some of the major districts will also receive road improvements." The 260-kilometre road spanning across the Upper East Region and the Upper West Region, when completed, would ease movement and improve connectivity between the two regions.

Payment Challenges Addressed, Contractors Assured of Payment

The President acknowledged that the section being undertaken by MyTurn Construction Limited had been stalled for some time due to payment challenges. However, the government has now prioritized payments to contractors under the Big Push programme, ensuring that contractors are assured of payment within 30 days after certificates have been presented.

Mr Kwame Governs Agbodza, Minister of Roads and Highways, said the government had paid GH¢23.1 billion to contractors, including payments to Big Push contractors and outstanding arrears. The payment of the arrears has enabled contractors to resume and accelerate work on several road projects across the country.

Second and Third Phases of the Big Push Programme

President Mahama also assured residents of the Upper East Region that roads which were not captured under the first phase of the Big Push programme would be considered under subsequent phases. The government is already scoping the second phase of the programme and will also undertake a third phase to ensure that more roads across the country are improved.

The President said, "I know that many people are coming to me and saying, you did not add a road to the Big Push. We are going to do a second phase and even a third phase." The objective is to ensure that by the end of the five-year Big Push programme, roads across the country would have received significant attention.

Completion of the Road and Its Significance

The Minister assured residents that the government would complete the road to Wa, saying the improvement of the corridor would address the long-standing challenges associated with travelling between Bolgatanga and Wa. The road is expected to be completed on schedule, with the President expressing his hope that the road would be completed on time to enable government to commission it by next year.

"It is my hope that by 2028, the whole stretch from here to Wa would have been completed. And so, if we are driving from Bolgatanga to Wa, we will have a smooth road to ride on," President Mahama said. The completion of the road would ease movement and improve connectivity between the two regions, facilitating economic activities across the country.

Source: JOY