President John Dramani Mahama has announced a GH¢1 billion Bawku Revitalisation Fund to rebuild critical infrastructure and restore the town’s economic activity following an extended period of conflict.
The President said the return of peace had created an opportunity to rebuild Bawku and restore its position as one of northern Ghana’s major commercial centres.
He made the announcement on Friday, August 14, 2026, during the Resetting Ghana community engagement in the Upper East Region.
“Bawku is finally calm. The guns have stopped sounding, and people are beginning to go about their normal business,” President Mahama said.
He commended traditional rulers and residents for helping to sustain the peace, saying the end of violence had opened the way for government to address the infrastructure and economic damage caused by the conflict.
According to the President, the prolonged instability had disrupted essential public services, forcing teachers and health professionals to leave the area.
He said the security situation had also made it difficult for government to post doctors and National Service personnel to Bawku.
The GH¢1 billion revitalisation fund will focus largely on roads, bridges and healthcare infrastructure.
President Mahama said work had already begun on some township roads, health facilities and other projects ahead of the inauguration of the committee that will oversee the fund.
He said government would improve roads and bridges to facilitate the movement of farmers and traders and support the revival of commercial activity.
The President also announced plans to complete one of the Agenda 111 hospitals in the area and construct another hospital in Bawku.
He expressed optimism that sustained peace would encourage displaced residents and professionals to return and help rebuild the local economy.
“I believe that if this peace continues, Bawku will bounce back to its original glory as a major commercial area of our country, and many of the people who left will return.”
$5bn agriculture investment
The President also announced plans to invest US$5 billion in agriculture and agro-processing over the next four years as part of government’s proposed New Economy policy.
The investment forms part of a broader US$10 billion programme targeting seven key sectors, with government planning to invest US$2.5 billion annually across the sectors.
Agriculture and agro-processing will receive half of the total investment.
“The biggest of these sectors is agriculture and agro-processing, and that is where the Upper East Region comes in,” President Mahama said.
He assured residents that the region would receive its fair share of the investment.
Government plans to use the funding to expand irrigation and enable farmers, particularly young people, to produce throughout the year.
In the Upper East Region, the Tomato Revitalisation Project is expected to bring 2,500 acres under tomato cultivation.
Government also plans to rehabilitate the Pwalugu Tomato Factory to process tomatoes produced locally and supply markets across Ghana.
The President said rehabilitation of the Tono irrigation dam was also underway, with the project expected to bring about 850 acres under cultivation and support dry-season farming, particularly onion production.
“We want to reduce the amount of onions we import from Niger,” he said, adding that expanded irrigation should enable Ghana to substitute imports with locally produced onions.
President Mahama said the investments marked a shift in government’s economic priorities from stabilisation towards growth, job creation and opportunities for young people.
For Bawku, the immediate challenge is to convert the fragile peace into sustained economic recovery by restoring infrastructure, rebuilding public services and creating conditions for businesses, farmers and displaced residents to return.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
