BIG PUSH Takes Off

President Mahama Launches Big Push with Major Road Projects

September 17, 2025

President John Dramani Mahama has officially launched the government’s Big Push infrastructure programme, beginning with sod-cutting for the Dawhenya–Ayikuma–Dodowa and Tema–Aflao road projects at a ceremony in Afienya on Tuesday.

The President said the Big Push, a key campaign pledge of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the 2024 elections, is aimed at closing Ghana’s annual infrastructure gap of $1.5 billion, particularly in the road sector.

“This sod-cutting is the first, but we are going to cut sod in five different areas to mark the start of the whole Big Push programme,” he noted, adding that all 16 regions would benefit.

Outlining priorities, he explained that the first focus would be connecting regional capitals, followed by district link roads and access to major food-producing and industrial zones.

“During the campaign, I promised that if there was one road I would start with, it would be this one. Today is promise delivered,” President Mahama told residents.

On financing, he disclosed that GH¢13.9 billion had already been allocated for the programme, with an additional GH¢30 billion to be released in 2026 for roads, health, education, agriculture, agribusiness, and sports. He assured that “payment will not be a problem,” stressing the programme is fully funded.

He also announced targeted support for constituencies with poor road networks. “We have selected 166 constituencies with the worst roads in Ghana, and we are going to give them 10 kilometres of roads and drains a year for four years,” he said.

President Mahama further revealed that GH¢5 billion annually would be drawn from the Road Fund for road maintenance, including pothole patching and drainage clearing.

Highlighting the importance of transport infrastructure for economic transformation, he said: “America became America because of the road and rail network they built early. We need to open up our country with roads, railways and aviation so we can push our economic transformation forward.”

He praised the Minister for Roads and Highways, Mr. Kwame Governs Agbodza, and local contractors engaged under the programme, assuring that quality would not be compromised.

“This is not for wheelbarrow contractors,” he emphasised, adding that several local firms have the same capacity as foreign contractors and will deliver on the projects.