President John Dramani Mahama has reaffirmed his commitment to delivering inclusive development, rebuilding public trust, and transforming the Ahafo region into a beacon of prosperity at Goaso during his “Thank You” tour of the region.
Speaking as both Ghana’s President and a “grateful son of the land,” President Mahama expressed heartfelt appreciation to the people of Ahafo for their resounding support in the 2024 general elections, which saw the National Democratic Congress (NDC) secure five of the six parliamentary seats and over 52.3% of the presidential vote in the region.
President Mahama described the NDC’s electoral success not merely as a political victory but as a decisive endorsement of the party’s vision for economic transformation, social justice, and equitable development.
“From the cocoa growing towns of Meim and Goaso to the mining enclaves of Kenyaase and Ntotrosso, from the agricultural heartlands of Hwediem and Akyerensua to the educational hubs of Becheam and Yanfo. Your voices were heard loud and clear on December 7 2024, and your votes have strengthened our resolve to deliver the developments that you require”.
HE President John Dramani Mahama
President Mahama also extended gratitude to traditional leaders across Ahafo for their wisdom and support, crediting them for helping him secure the electoral victory.
He underscored the importance of deepening collaboration with traditional authorities to promote community development and good governance, stressing that traditional leaders remain vital custodians of heritage and peace.
President Mahama outlined an ambitious development agenda anchored in a strategy of “continuity and completion,” assuring the people that his administration would not abandon projects initiated by previous governments.
He disclosed that an inventory of all abandoned and uncompleted projects has already been undertaken, and contractors would soon return to sites to ensure the full utilisation of taxpayers’ funds.
Completion of Critical Infrastructural Projects
A central highlight of his address was the commitment to the completion of critical infrastructure projects, including the long-delayed Mabang-Goaso Highway.
President Mahama said he has directed the Ministry of Roads and Highways to prioritize this road due to its importance for regional mobility and trade.
Urban roads in towns like Goaso, Kenyaase, and Akyerensua would be upgraded, with new traffic control systems and safety measures installed to ease transportation and improve vehicular flow.
President Mahama was particularly emphatic about the Tremasu Road, a stretch that dates back to the Rawlings era but has since suffered neglect. “Before I leave office in 2028, that road will be completed,” he assured, pointing to past efforts by his administration to improve it.
A broader list of targeted roads under the NDC’s “Big Push” infrastructure Agenda includes the Atronia–Sunyani Highway, the Meim–Kasapee–Bediako Camp 16 roads, and the Kukuo–Sankore and Gambia Number 1–Tremasu roads.
Commitment to Quality Healthcare and Education
In the health sector, President Mahama reiterated the National Democratic Congress’s commitment to universal healthcare under the “Mahama Cares” program.
He announced that plans were far advanced for the construction of a modern Ahafo Regional Hospital, fulfilling a manifesto promise to equip each of the six newly created regions with state-of-the-art medical facilities.
“This facility will be a referral centre with specialist services in maternal and child health, surgery, diagnostics, and emergency care. The new Ahafo Hospital will make it unnecessary for people to travel all the way to Kumasi to Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital.”
HE President John Dramani Mahama
President Mahama appealed to traditional leaders and stakeholders to facilitate the allocation of land for the hospital project.
Expanding educational access also featured prominently in President Mahama’s speech. The President announced plans to establish a university in the Ahafo Region to focus on agriculture, natural resources, and health sciences.
Selected nursing and midwifery colleges will be upgraded to degree-awarding institutions, while secondary and health training schools will receive buses to enhance academic operations.
Ongoing projects like the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) regional directorate office complex in Kenyaase are set to bolster youth employment and industrial training.
Agriculture and Industrialization
To stimulate economic development in rural communities, President Mahama unveiled a bold agenda under the 24-hour economy strategy and rural industrialization plan.
Agro-processing equipment will be distributed to farmer cooperatives, and value chains in cocoa, plantain, cassava, and oil palm will be developed to support local processing.
The initiative, he said, will be driven by partnerships with local entrepreneurs and diaspora investors. Moreover, the government will review and possibly expand local government jurisdictions to enhance service delivery and governance efficiency.
The President also indicated that markets across the country including the Ahafo region are also set to undergo transformation under an initiative led by Vice President Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang.
President Mahama revealed that a modern market will be constructed in the Kenyaase community, equipped with facilities such as cold stores, sanitation units, daycare centers, and parking lots. Similar markets will be developed in other towns to support female traders and micro-enterprises.
Ahafo’s rich soil and agricultural potential, President Mahama said, positions the region as central to the NDC’s “Feed Ghana” program.
According to him, through targeted input subsidies, mechanisation support, extension services, and enhanced irrigation infrastructure, farmers will be empowered to increase production.
Young entrepreneurs in agro-processing will be given access to financing and training. “Food sovereignty is national security,” President Mahama declared, promising that his administration would work to make Ghana self-sufficient in food production.
Ghana Labour Export Program
On the international front, President Mahama announced plans to launch a Ghana Labour Export Program aimed at addressing global labour shortages.
The program will export professionals, such as electricians, health workers, mechanics, chefs, and machine operators—on fixed-term contracts abroad.
A pilot agreement has already been signed for the deployment of 2,000 workers. He emphasized that beneficiaries would be drawn fairly from all 16 regions, including Ahafo.
Addressing the cocoa sector, President Mahama acknowledged its collapse in recent years and pledged a revamp. He said incentives would be provided to encourage production, with the target of adding 200,000 hectares to Ghana’s cocoa cultivation.
He hinted at an attractive new cocoa producer price to be announced by the Ghana Cocoa Board in August, urging residents to consider cocoa farming as a viable economic option.
The President also confirmed that allowances for assembly members would soon be paid through arrangements with the Controller and Accountant General’s Department. Similarly, the long-awaited payment of nursing and teacher trainee allowances according to President Mahama will commence very soon, with payments to be made monthly and arrears settled.
President Mahama took a moment to commend some distinguished sons and daughters of the Ahafo Region who are contributing meaningfully to national development.
He praised Collins Dauda, Chairman of the Hajj Taskforce; Dr. Hannah Bissiw, CEO of the Minerals Development Fund; Dauda Ishak, MD of Prestea Mines; Asanaba Imoro, Executive Secretary of the Seed and Legume Program; and Junior Mohammed, Deputy CEO of the Minerals Income Investment Fund.
Others include Peter Mensah of Tema Dry Dock and Shipyard, Mohammed Doku of the Bui Power Authority, Eric Opoku, Minister of Agriculture in charge of Food Production and Feed Ghana Program, and Charity Gardener, the Ahafo Regional Minister.
“These men and women exemplify the extraordinary human resource potential of the Ahafo Region,” President Mahama said, noting that their professionalism and patriotism are essential to Ghana’s national reset agenda.
He urged all stakeholders—across party lines, faiths, and generations—to join hands to transform Ahafo into a model of prosperity.
“You voted for a government that listens. You voted for a leadership that delivers. I can assure you, the people of the Ahafo region, I will not let you down. Let us together write the next chapter in the Ahafo story—a chapter of bold dreams, courageous actions, and shared progress.”
HE President John Dramani Mahama
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