At a colourful ceremony in Sawla to mark the commencement of the rehabilitation of the 195km Wenchi- Bole-Sawla-Wa Big Push Project, President John Dramani Mahama declared that by 2027, Ghana will boast the best road infrastructure in West Africa.
The project, a key component of the government’s Big Push National Infrastructure Program and a cornerstone of the 24-hour economy policy, underscores the administration’s commitment to equitable national development and modern infrastructure renewal.
Addressing a large gathering of traditional leaders, contractors, and residents, President Mahama said the sod-cutting ceremony signified more than just the start of a road project.
“Today we are here in Sawla, on the soil of Sawla, to do more than just cut sod. We are here to open a new corridor of progress, to reconnect regions, markets, and families, to renew the promise of inclusive development, and to affirm that every part of Ghana deserves modern infrastructure, dignity, and opportunity”.
President John Dramani Mahama
The President noted that the project marks the rehabilitation of the Wenchi–Sawla–Wa corridor, which forms part of the National Route N-12, stretching from Techiman in the Bono East Region through Bole and Bamboi to Wa in the Upper West Region, and further northwards to Hamile at Ghana’s border with Burkina Faso.
The corridor, he explained, is a major lifeline for Ghana’s agriculture and trade, carrying an estimated 2,000 to 2,500 vehicles daily and nearly 4,000 tonnes of grains, yams, cashew, and livestock from the middle belt to the north.
“For years, this strategic artery has been allowed to deteriorate. Potholes, failed pavements, and broken drains have made travel difficult and hazardous. Vehicle operating costs on this road have risen by nearly 40%, travel time between Wenchi, Sawla, and Wa can take up to eight hours, and the rate of accidents has increased.
“As a result of the poor nature of the road and the slow speed at which vehicles have to travel, we have also recorded armed robberies on this stretch. This is unacceptable in modern Ghana”.
President John Dramani Mahama
A Comprehensive Road Reconstruction Program
Under the Big Push initiative, the government has committed to a comprehensive road reconstruction program. The project, which spans approximately 195 kilometres, is divided into seven lots to ensure concurrent execution and timely completion within 24 months.
“The project will include complete pavement reconstruction and widening, drainage and culvert upgrades to handle heavy rains, and asphaltic concrete surfacing.
“So the road is not just going to be bituminous; it will be an asphalt road with guardrails, road signs, and proper markings.”
President John Dramani Mahama
The President assured that town roads in Bole-Bamboi, Kpandai-Nkwanta, and Tinga will also be upgraded as part of the project, adding that within Bole Township, the road will become a dual carriageway, easing congestion and improving safety.
President Mahama revealed that some of the finest and most experienced contractors had been selected for the project, including China International Water and Electric Corporation (CIWE), Polychangda Overseas Engineering Company, China Railway No. 5 Engineering Company, and Ghana’s own Maripoma Limited.
“These contractors have been selected for their proven competence and integrity. And let me emphasise, this government will not tolerate delays or shoddy work.
“We expect compliance with the highest technical standards, environmental protection, and transparent oversight by the Ghana Highway Authority and the Ministry of Roads and Highways”.
President John Dramani Mahama
Big Reliefs after Completion
Once completed, the project is expected to reduce travel time between Wenchi and Wa by over 50%, cut vehicle operating costs by more than 40%, and lower accident rates by about 45%.
More importantly, the road will facilitate the smooth transport of agricultural goods, strengthen regional trade, and improve access to markets. “Beyond the numbers, this means that a teacher will reach their posting without delay, a farmer will earn fairer prices, and a trader will deliver their produce day and night,” the President explained.
He noted that these infrastructural improvements were integral to the 24-hour economy, a flagship policy designed to ensure continuous production, processing, and logistics across Ghana.
“This is the essence of the 24-hour economy, where quality infrastructure allows production, processing, and logistics to run continuously 24/7, creating jobs and supporting livelihoods”.
President John Dramani Mahama
The President also announced that the rehabilitation forms part of a broader transformation of Ghana’s northwestern corridor. This includes the reconstruction of the Fufulso–Sawla Road, first built under his previous administration with support from the African Development Bank, and the completion of the Bole–Mandari–Chaché link to the Ivory Coast border.
These roads, he explained, will be integrated into a continuous high-quality highway from Techiman through Wenchi, Bamboi, Sawla, Wa, and Hamile—linking the agricultural heartlands of the middle belt to Ghana’s northern frontier and the Sahel trade routes. President Mahama appealed to citizens to protect and preserve the investment being made.
“This project is a shared trust between the government and the people of Ghana. Let us protect it, let us avoid encroachments on the road, let us avoid overloading of trucks that destroy our investments, and most importantly, let us avoid putting illegal speed ramps on the road”.
President John Dramani Mahama
He explained that poorly constructed speed ramps cause damage because heavy trucks slow down abruptly, placing excess weight on the road surface. “We’re going to let the contractors put properly engineered speed ramps along the road where vehicles have to slow down,” he assured. The President urged the contractors to employ local labour and source supplies locally.
“If you need labour, take the local people. If you need supplies of food or water, our people here are enterprising enough—they can be your suppliers.
“I urge our youth from Bamboi, Banda, Nkwanta, Tinga, Bole, and Sawla to take advantage of this opportunity. The Big Push is about fairness and equity; it ensures that the North and South develop together”.
President John Dramani Mahama
Infrastructure as the “Backbone of a Prosperous Economy
President Mahama described infrastructure as the “backbone of a prosperous economy,” emphasizing that without roads, no nation can progress. He said the Big Push Program is a tangible demonstration of his government’s commitment to inclusive growth and national unity.
“What we’re starting here today is more than a construction project. It is a covenant of hope—a promise that this government will deliver not slogans, but solutions; not excuses, but excellence.
“From Wenchi to Sawla, from Bole to Wa, from Savannah to Accra, we are weaving our nation together, tread by tread, road by road, bridge by bridge, and community by community”.
President John Dramani Mahama
He concluded by thanking the people of Ghana for their patience and cooperation as the Big Push transforms the country into “a vast construction site” over the next two years.
“I wish to repeat my apology and regret to the people of Ghana that, with the start of Big Push, the whole of Ghana is going to be a construction site for the next two years. But 24 months after its launch, you will have the best roads in West Africa”.
President John Dramani Mahama
President John Dramani Mahama’s launch of the Techiman–Wa Road rehabilitation under the Big Push Program stands as a bold statement of intent—one that ties infrastructure directly to Ghana’s broader vision of inclusive and sustained development.
By pledging to deliver the best road network in West Africa within two years, his administration is not merely constructing highways, but laying the groundwork for economic transformation, regional connectivity, and social equity.
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