President John Dramani Mahama has officially launched the Big Push infrastructure programme, assuring Ghanaians that every region of the country will benefit.

Speaking at Afienya in the Greater Accra Region, the president explained that the initiative was designed to address Ghana’s 1.5 billion-dollar annual infrastructure deficit, with roads as the top priority. 

He recalled that the Big Push was first introduced in his 2020 manifesto but could not be implemented after the NDC lost that election. However, the party’s return to power in 2024, he said, had given life to the vision.

“The Big Push is a promise we made to the people of Ghana, and today we are fulfilling it,” President Mahama declared.

He outlined three priorities guiding the selection of projects: roads linking regional capitals, roads connecting district capitals, and infrastructure in food-producing and industrial zones.

The president said quality and speed would define delivery, stressing that his government had carefully assessed contractors’ capacity to ensure durable work, most of the selected firms being Ghanaian contractors, with a few foreign companies continuing pre-existing projects.

The first phase of works covers several key projects in the Greater Accra Region, including the Afienya–Dawhenya–Dodowa Road, the Tema–Aflao dual carriageway, the Ashaiman–Esutuare Road, the Oyibi–Apolonia–Afienya Road, and the Dodowa–Somanya stretch. 

Other stalled roads such as the Dome–Kwabenya–Ketasi Road, the Ofankor–Nsawam Road, the Adenta–Dodowa dualisation, and the Beach Road from Black Star Square to Tema have also been repackaged under the programme.

On funding, the president revealed that 13.9 billion cedis had already been set aside for the Big Push, with an additional 30 billion cedis to be added in 2026. 

He assured that contractors will not face delays in payment.

Beyond roads, the Big Push will extend to health, education, agriculture, agribusiness, and sports, with plans including building irrigation systems to support year-round farming, improving food security, and upgrading facilities across the country.

President Mahama also announced that 166 constituencies with the worst road conditions would each receive 40 kilometres of new roads over four years, while five billion cedis would be allocated annually for road maintenance.

He emphasised that the Big Push was central to Ghana’s economic transformation, noting: “We need to open up our country with roads, railways and aviation so that goods and services can move freely and farmers can get their produce to market on time.”

The president assured communities not yet captured in the programme that the regular road budget remained available to address their needs. 

He expressed confidence that by 2027, Ghanaians would see a significant improvement in the quality of the nation’s road network.