President John Dramani Mahama has called on contractors working on the government’s Big Push infrastructure projects to accelerate construction once the current rainy season eases, assuring them that funding for the projects has already been secured.
Speaking during an inspection of the Apam–Mumford–Hweda–Dago–Otuam Road rehabilitation project under Big Push road projects in the Gomoa West District as part of his Resetting Ghana Tour of the Central Region, President Mahama acknowledged that heavy rainfall had slowed progress on several construction sites across the country.
However, he expressed confidence that work would regain momentum as weather conditions improve. The President assured contractors that payments would be processed promptly once work resumes, enabling them to continue construction without unnecessary financial delays.
“As soon as the rainfall subsides, we promise that it will be processed at the right time and you will get your money quickly. The contractors should speed up so that they can present their second certificate and be paid so that they can go back to work.”
President John Dramani Mahama
Funding Ready for Continued Construction
President Mahama stressed that the availability of funding should remove uncertainty surrounding the continuation of the projects. He encouraged contractors to complete the next stages of their work quickly so they could qualify for subsequent payments and maintain steady progress on construction sites.
He also indicated that government intends to expand the Big Push initiative by introducing additional projects next year. According to him, communities whose roads have not yet been included in the current programme should remain hopeful because more opportunities will become available.
The President said the government’s long term commitment is to continue improving road infrastructure across the country to support economic growth and improve transportation.
“We’ll continue to improve the road network because we know that the main means of transport for passengers and for goods in Ghana is the roads,” he said.
Engineers Asked to Enforce Quality Standards
Beyond the pace of construction, President Mahama placed strong emphasis on the quality of work being carried out. He urged engineers and project supervisors to ensure that contractors strictly follow technical specifications, particularly during the compaction stage of road construction.
He warned that poor compaction remains one of the leading causes of premature road failures, even when the road surface appears complete. “Please make sure the compaction is done well,” he said. “Most of the roads fail because the compaction is not well done.”
According to the President, applying the road surface without properly compacting the underlying layers leaves roads vulnerable to damage once heavy rains begin. “If you only put the seal on it, after it rains, the road starts to subside,” he explained.
He therefore charged engineers to closely monitor every stage of construction and ensure that contractors meet all required engineering standards before work proceeds.
“It’s really the engineer who makes sure that the contractor is not paying attention to the test. The compaction must be properly done, and make sure that it’s all compacted”.
President John Dramani Mahama
Commitment to Better Roads
President Mahama concluded by expressing appreciation to the engineers and project managers overseeing the works and encouraged them to maintain high professional standards throughout the construction process.
His inspection formed part of the Central Region leg of the Resetting Ghana Tour, during which he has been assessing ongoing government projects and engaging local stakeholders on development priorities.
The Big Push programme is one of the government’s major infrastructure initiatives aimed at improving road connectivity across the country. The programme seeks to upgrade key road networks to facilitate the movement of people and goods, strengthen economic activity, and improve access to communities.
While adverse weather has temporarily slowed progress, the President’s assurance that funds are available and that payments will be made promptly is expected to provide confidence to contractors preparing to resume work.
His remarks also reinforced the government’s expectation that contractors deliver projects on schedule while maintaining the highest construction standards.
By combining timely funding with strict engineering supervision, President Mahama said the government is determined to deliver durable roads that will serve communities for many years rather than deteriorate shortly after completion.
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