Senior Presidential Advisor and aide to President John Dramani Mahama, Joyce Bawah Mogtari, has expressed confidence that the government’s massive infrastructure expansion under the Big Push programme together with ongoing developments at the Accra International Airport will significantly strengthen Ghana’s economy and help the country fully attain middle income status.
Mrs Mogtari, who served as Deputy Transport Minister during the first Mahama administration from 2013 to 2017, made the remarks after accompanying President Mahama and members of his ministerial team on a working visit to the Accra International Airport.
According to her, the scale of investment currently being undertaken in transportation infrastructure demonstrates the government’s commitment to transforming Ghana’s economic landscape.
“The Big Push roads will totally change the landscape of our beloved country, Ghana,” she stated. She further noted that the expansion of the airport would improve Ghana’s competitiveness in air transportation while supporting broader economic growth.
“The Accra International Airport expansion will improve Ghana’s competitiveness in air travel, and Ghana will finally achieve full middle-income status”.
Joyce Bawah Mogtari, Senior Presidential Advisor and Aide to President Mahama
Airport Expansion Expected to Improve Competitiveness
Mrs Mogtari described the ongoing works at the airport as impressive and capable of positioning Ghana as one of Africa’s leading aviation hubs if sustained investment continues.
“It was a privilege to witness the impressive work underway at the Airport. Upon observing the ongoing progress at the airport, I am convinced that with strategic investment, Ghana will soon become Africa’s leading Aviation hub.”
Joyce Bawah Mogtari, Senior Presidential Advisor and Aide to President Mahama
According to her, modern airport infrastructure remains essential to economic growth, tourism, and regional connectivity. “Modern airport facilities are crucial for growth and will continue to shape the future of aviation, as air travel demand persists, and an efficient Aviation Hub will enhance tourism and reduce travel time,” she explained.
A major highlight of the President’s visit was the sod-cutting ceremony for the construction of a new interconnected concourse linking Terminal 2 and Terminal 3 at the airport. The project is expected to improve passenger movement, operational efficiency, and service delivery at the country’s main international gateway.
Mrs Mogtari disclosed that the new concourse would feature five passenger boarding bridges, five passenger holding areas, bi directional travelators, escalators, elevators, a VIP lounge, four business lounges, and new retail and duty free facilities.
Big Push Programme Targets Infrastructure Deficit
The Senior Presidential Advisor also highlighted the importance of the government’s Big Push programme, which she described as one of the most ambitious infrastructure initiatives in Ghana’s history.
The programme is projected to cost about 10 billion dollars and is supported by a GH¢13.8 billion allocation in 2025 and GH¢30.8 billion in the 2026 budget.
The initiative seeks to address Ghana’s infrastructure deficit by dualising major highways, completing abandoned projects, and linking all 16 regional capitals through improved road networks.
President Mahama has stated that more than 2,000 kilometres of roads are currently under construction simultaneously across the country. Mrs Mogtari said the programme would dramatically improve mobility, trade, and economic opportunities nationwide.
Major Road Projects Across the Country
The Big Push programme currently includes more than 50 major road projects covering over 1,144 kilometres. Among the flagship projects is the Accra-Kumasi Expressway, which is expected to reduce travel time between the two cities to approximately two and a half hours.
Another major development is the dualisation of the Kasoa to Winneba and Winneba to Mankessim to Cape Coast corridor, a project aimed at reducing traffic congestion along the busy Accra to Takoradi route.
Government is also redeveloping the Cape Coast to Takoradi road into a 73.6 kilometre dual carriageway with nine interchanges and ten bridges to improve trade activities linked to the Takoradi Port.
Additional projects include major outer ring roads in Kumasi, Sunyani, and Tamale, intended to decongest urban centres and improve transportation within the cities.
The initiative also involves the construction of a 3.6 kilometre bridge across the River Afram together with approximately 100 kilometres of roads to open up the Afram Plains area for agricultural development.
Other important projects include the Dambai and Volivo bridges and corridor upgrades along the Wenchi to Bole to Sawla to Wa road and the Eastern Corridor connecting Atimpoku, Asikuma, and Ho.
Government Prioritises Local Participation
The Big Push initiative is being financed primarily through domestic resources including oil revenues and mineral royalties instead of relying heavily on external borrowing.
Government has also prioritised the involvement of local contractors in the implementation process, with more than 5,000 contractors currently registered for projects.
The first phase of the programme focuses largely on roads while future phases extending to 2028 are expected to cover hospitals and other social infrastructure. To improve transparency and cost control, government has introduced reforms requiring all projects to be costed internally by state technical agencies.
Government officials say implementation of several projects under the Big Push programme is progressing steadily. President Mahama recently described Ghana as a “massive construction site” because of the scale of infrastructure activity currently taking place across the country.
Some projects, including the Winneba to Mankessim dualisation, are reported to have reached approximately 40 percent completion. Roads Minister Governs Kwame Agbodza has also confirmed that the government has paid more than GH¢12 billion to contractors to prevent delays and sustain progress on projects.
Mrs Mogtari maintained that the combined impact of modern roads and upgraded aviation infrastructure would significantly improve Ghana’s economic competitiveness and quality of life.
According to her, the investments are laying the foundation for long term national growth and helping position Ghana strongly within Africa’s economic future.
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