President John Dramani Mahama has officially launched his government’s flagship infrastructure initiative, the Big Push, with a sod-cutting ceremony for multiple road projects in the Greater Accra Region.
The programme, which was first promised in the 2020 election campaign and revived following his re-election in 2024, aims to tackle Ghana’s staggering infrastructure deficit, particularly in the road sector.
Speaking at Afienya during the ceremony, President Mahama explained that the Big Push was conceived in response to a World Bank estimate that Ghana suffers a $1.5 billion annual shortfall in infrastructure investments.
“We said we were going to invest $2 billion every year in infrastructure, especially in roads. Unfortunately, we did not win that election, and so the Big Push remained a dream yet to be born. By the grace of God, in 2024, the people of Ghana gave NDC the mandate, and that gave rebirth to the Big Push program.”
President John Dramani Mahama
President Mahama stressed that the programme was a direct response to citizen concerns, recalling a pledge he made to traditional leaders on the campaign trail.
“I remember when I went to the palace of one of our traditional rulers during the campaign, and he told me, ‘President Mahama, we will vote for you. But if we vote for you, if you don’t do anything else, just fix all the roads in Ghana for us and we’ll be satisfied.’ That stuck in my head.”
President John Dramani Mahama
According to President Mahama, the Big Push has been designed to cover all 16 regions of Ghana, with projects selected based on three key criteria: connecting regional capitals, linking district capitals, and improving roads in food-producing and industrial areas.
“We believe it should be easy for people to travel from one regional capital to another, and also for farmers to move produce from their farms to the market without fear of spoilage”.
President John Dramani Mahama
Projects in Greater Accra
In Greater Accra, the initial projects under the Big Push include the Dahwenya-Afienya-Dodowa road, the first phase of the dualisation of the Tema-Aflao road, the Ashaiman-Asutuare road, the Oyibi-Apolonia-Afienya road, and the Dodowa-Somanya and Somanya township roads.
Other projects, such as the Dome-Ketase road, Ofankor-Nsawam road, Adenta-Dodowa dualisation, and the Beach Road from Black Star Square to Tema, are also being captured under the initiative.
President Mahama used the event to highlight the rigorous process undertaken in selecting contractors, emphasising quality and capacity.
“The quality of a road depends on compaction. If you compact it well and you put the bitumen on it, the road will last forever. But in some cases, contractors are in a hurry, so they just compact the sub-base loosely. In a few months, when heavy trucks pass, the road fails. We don’t want that in the Big Push”.
President John Dramani Mahama
Ghanaian Contractors Leading Construction
The President said the majority of contractors chosen are Ghanaian, reflecting the government’s confidence in local capacity. “Several of our contractors have the same capacity as any foreign contractor. We believe in the performance and ingenuity of the Ghanaian contractor,” he said.
He, however, acknowledged that some foreign contractors were retained because they already held active contracts before the NDC returned to power.
One of the highlighted local firms, Oswald Investments Limited, has been contracted for the Dahwenya-Afienya-Dodowa road. President Mahama praised the company’s track record.
“He works with speed, but he doesn’t compromise quality. We’ve given him 24 months to finish, but he has whispered in my ear that he’ll do it in less than 24 months. And I want to assure him that payment will not be a problem.”
President John Dramani Mahama
Big Push Financing Secured
Financing for the Big Push has been prioritised in the government’s budget. According to the President, GHS 13.9 billion was already allocated this year and will be rolled over into the following year, with an additional GHS 30 billion expected to be committed in 2026.
“Payment will not be a problem,” President Mahama assured, adding that the programme would soon expand to cover health, education, agriculture, agribusiness, and sports infrastructure. He explained that part of the agricultural focus will include building irrigation systems to enable year-round farming.
“One of the reasons why we’re not able to achieve food security is we farm for six months of the year and then we sit at home for another six months. We want to transition so that we plant and harvest all year round. That’s when we can assure food security for Ghana.”
President John Dramani Mahama
Road Maintenance
Beyond new construction, the Big Push also prioritises road maintenance. President Mahama announced that the Ghana Road Fund would dedicate about GHS 5 billion annually to pothole patching, drainage, and general upkeep to extend the lifespan of completed roads.
Framing the Big Push as a catalyst for economic transformation, the President drew parallels with the United States and underscored the need for Ghana to learn from the country’s success story in road infrastructure..
“If you go into history, America became America because of the road and rail network that they built early across the whole country, connecting the West Coast to the East Coast.
“That is when America opened up. We need to open up our country with roads, railways, and aviation travel so that we can push our economic transformation forward.”
President John Dramani Mahama
President Mahama ended his address with a firm assurance that the Big Push would mark the beginning of Ghana’s economic renewal. He emphasized that while the program prioritizes transformative projects across all regions, it will not replace the government’s regular road budget.
Communities whose roads are not immediately captured under the initiative should therefore expect continued improvements through other funding channels.
He further pledged that the Big Push would not only deliver new infrastructure but also ensure the maintenance of existing roads, with dedicated funds set aside annually for pothole patching, drainage works, and general upkeep.
For him, roads remain the arteries of national development, vital to moving people, goods, and services efficiently and unlocking Ghana’s full economic potential.
President Mahama expressed optimism that by 2027, Ghanaians would witness a visible difference in road quality and connectivity across the country. “We are coming to you with good roads,” he assured farmers, traders, and traditional leaders alike.
With a renewed call for collective support, he declared the Big Push as the foundation of Ghana’s next phase of growth, urging citizens to look forward to a transformed transport network that will drive prosperity and national unity.
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