The Upper West Regional Parliamentary Caucus is set to embark on a two-day inspection of selected road projects under the government’s flagship Big Push Infrastructure Programme as growing public concern over the slow pace of work continues to mount across the region.
The inspection, scheduled for August 20–21, 2026, is expected to enable the Members of Parliament to assess progress on the ground, engage contractors and identify challenges hampering the timely execution of the projects.
The Member of Parliament for Wa West, Peter Lanchene Toobu, announced the exercise on Facebook on Wednesday, describing it as part of the caucus’ oversight responsibility and an effort to support government’s infrastructure agenda.
“Join us in Wa tomorrow as we monitor the Big Push roads within our corridor,” Mr Toobu said.
He thanked President John Dramani Mahama, Finance Minister Cassiel Ato Forson and Roads and Highways Minister Kwame Governs Agbodza for the initiative, stressing that the MPs would use their oversight role to support government’s efforts.
“The BIG PUSH must push through,” he added.
The announcement has, however, generated mixed reactions from citizens, with some welcoming the intervention while others urged the MPs to ensure that the exercise results in tangible action rather than another inspection without corresponding progress on the roads.
Ridwan Sessay said the caucus’ intervention followed months of advocacy for the resumption and acceleration of work on the Wa–Sawla–Wenchi–Hamile N12 corridor, describing the development as a case of “action over words.”
Another resident, Rogation Nobaboma, urged the MPs to extend their monitoring beyond the roads around Wa and Tumu, specifically mentioning the Lawra–Hain stretch.
“We need you to monitor all the roads that are been awarded, like the Lawra-Hain and not only Wa-Tumu and Wa-Techima stretch,” he said.
Innocent Gorpieur Dabier expressed scepticism, urging the MPs not to give residents what he described as “another camouflage” similar to the Roads Minister’s previous visit to the Savannah Region.
Talented Biden, meanwhile, welcomed the exercise, saying it was a positive indication that the region’s representatives had finally responded to citizens’ concerns.
“Finally, our representatives in Parliament have heard our concerns. At least, this is a positive step that will help calm our nerves a little,” he said.
Yelekuro Melo also welcomed the initiative, stressing the importance of infrastructure development to improving livelihoods and opening up economic opportunities across the region.
Big Push and upper west’s road expectations
The Big Push Infrastructure Programme is the Mahama administration’s flagship infrastructure initiative aimed at accelerating investment in major roads and other infrastructure across the country.
The Ministry of Roads and Highways says 77 projects are being executed under the programme, comprising 54 new awards and 23 projects continued from the previous government. The Ministry’s published progress information is currently based on the status of projects as of March 2026.
Upper West occupies an important place in the programme because of the region’s long-standing concerns over its road network and its strategic location linking Ghana’s middle belt to Burkina Faso and other Sahelian markets.
President Mahama, while launching major road works in the region in November 2025, said Upper West would witness “giant revolutionary changes” in its road network within two years. The projects announced at the time covered more than 260 kilometres and included the Wa–Bulenga–Yaala, Wa–Han, Tumu–Han–Lawra and Tumu–Hamile roads.
The President had earlier described the Wenchi–Sawla–Wa highway as a critical national route, with the 195-kilometre corridor divided into seven lots for concurrent execution and targeted for completion within two years. The route forms part of the N12 and is intended to improve connections between Bono East, Savannah and Upper West, while facilitating the movement of agricultural produce and trade towards the north and Burkina Faso.
Major upper west projects
According to the Ministry’s published Big Push project information, major Upper West projects include the Wa–Han Road, Tumu–Han–Lawra Road, Tumu–Hamile Road and sections of the Tumu–Chuchuliga–Navrongo corridor.
The Ministry’s detailed project list identifies, among others, the 54-kilometre Wa–Han section, awarded to Mo & Mo Company Limited for about GH¢436.4 million, and the 15-kilometre Tumu–Hamile section, awarded to M.A. & Constant Company for about GH¢208 million.
The Tumu–Han–Lawra road has been divided into several sections involving different contractors. The published contract information identifies contractors including Aschal Investment Limited, Maripoma Enterprise Limited, Greenhouse International Development Ghana Limited and P&W Ghanem Limited.
The wider road intervention also includes the Wa–Sawla–Wenchi corridor, portions of which are being executed under the Big Push programme. The Presidency says the 195-kilometre corridor has been divided into seven lots to allow for concurrent construction.
Concerns over pace of work
The MPs’ inspection comes months after the Roads and Highways Minister, Kwame Governs Agbodza, toured road projects in the Upper West Region and acknowledged concerns raised by chiefs and residents over road infrastructure.
During his May 2026 tour, the Minister inspected several projects and assessed the performance of contractors, including work on the Bulenga–Yaanyuo-Yiri road, where ASTEE Ghana Limited was undertaking works.
The tour came against a backdrop of growing public frustration over some projects, including reports of contractors being slow to mobilise to site.
The situation has made the upcoming parliamentary inspection particularly significant. Citizens are no longer simply asking government to award roads; they want to see machinery on site, measurable progress and clear timelines for completion.
The MPs’ two-day exercise therefore presents an opportunity to establish what is actually happening on the ground—whether contractors are adequately mobilised, whether work is progressing according to schedule and what obstacles, if any, are responsible for delays.
It will also test the caucus’ pledge to play its oversight role in support of government’s infrastructure agenda.
For residents who have endured deteriorating roads and years of delayed projects, the expectation is simple: the Big Push must move beyond promises and inspections to visible construction and completed roads.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
