President John Dramani Mahama has defended the phased implementation of his government’s Big Push road programme, saying limited resources make it impossible to fix all of Ghana’s roads at the same time.
He said the government would first prioritise major trunk roads before moving to feeder roads and extending the network into communities.
President Mahama made the remarks after inspecting ongoing work on the Wa–Han–Tumu–Navrongo road on the first day of his two-day ResettingGhana Tour of the Upper West Region.
“Although everyone wishes all their roads could be constructed at once, we simply cannot do that,” he said, citing budgetary constraints.
The President said the government had therefore structured the programme into phases, with Big Push Phase One currently underway and work already beginning on the scope for Phases Two and Three.
He explained that the strategy was to establish a strong trunk-road network first, allowing motorists from districts and communities to connect to major highways before feeder roads are subsequently tackled.
“As we move forward, we will progress from the trunk roads to the feeder roads that connect with the trunk road network. After the trunk roads are completed, we will extend the feeder roads into our communities and towns,” he said.
President Mahama also expressed confidence in the progress of the Wa–Han–Tumu–Navrongo project, saying it was on course for commissioning next year.
He said the government was going beyond basic road surfacing to improve the durability of the corridor and deliver better value for money.
“After the double surface dressing, we will seal the entire road with asphalt from Wa to Bolgatanga,” he said, adding that the treatment was intended to give the road a lifespan of at least 20 years with minimal maintenance.
The Wa–Han–Tumu–Navrongo corridor is a key economic link between the Upper West and Upper East regions, serving the movement of people, goods and agricultural produce.
The inspection formed the first major activity of the President’s regional tour, during which he is expected to engage residents and assess ongoing government projects.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
