President John Dramani Mahama has expressed deep gratitude to the people of the Upper East Region for their unwavering support for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), pledging to fulfil their heightened expectations with a transformative development agenda.
Speaking during his Thank You Tour at Jubilee Park in Bolgatanga, President Mahama acknowledged the region’s steadfast loyalty to the NDC since the Fourth Republic and highlighted his vision to bridge the development gap between northern Ghana and the rest of the country.
President Mahama, who secured a resounding mandate in the 2024 general elections, described the endorsement as a reflection of the people’s trust in his leadership and his party’s core principles of fairness, probity, and accountability.
“I recognize that the emphatic mandate you have given me reflects your heightened expectations of me and my government. It is an affirmation of your trust in the principles of fairness probity and accountability that form the bedrock of NDC’s ideological underpinnings.
“More importantly, it is an expression of your confidence in our vision to reset Ghana and transform the fortunes of our dear Upper East region. I embrace your trust with a deep sense of humility and an unshakable commitment to work tirelessly to justify the faith that you have placed in me and the National Democratic Congress.”
President John Dramani Mahama
President Mahama paid tribute to the Upper East Region for producing some of the finest human resources that have played pivotal roles in Ghana’s national development.
He noted that the region boasts of key government officials, including Majority Leader and Leader of Government Business, Mahama Ayariga; Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Dr Dominic Ayine; Chairman of the Finance Committee of Parliament, Isaac Adongo; Deputy Minister for Education, Clement Abass Apak; and Minister of State in charge of Public Sector Reform, Lydia Akanvariba.
In the public administration sector, President Mahama acknowledged the contributions of Ghana Health Service Director-General, Prof. Samuel Kaba Akoriyea, and GOIL Managing Director, Edward Bawah, among other distinguished leaders from the region.
Their collective leadership, he emphasized, is a testament to the depth of talent the Upper East Region continues to offer Ghana.
Bridging the Developmental Gap
The President lamented the persistent development disparity between northern Ghana and the rest of the country, attributing it to structural inequalities inherited from colonial rule.
After independence, President Mahama indicated that the first government of Dr Kwame Nkrumah recognized the disparity in development between the North and South of Ghana and therefore, introduced the northern scholarship scheme and also began the construction of the Ghana Education Trust Schools.
According to him, the premise of the 1992 constitution also recognized this historic inequality and sought to correct it through the principle of balanced distribution of national development as enshrined in the directive principles of state policy.
However, while this constitutional mandate has facilitated some progress, President Mahama noted that it has not been sufficient to bridge the legacy gap that continues to limit opportunities for the millions of people in the northern parts of Ghana
He criticized successive governments for failing to address these disparities effectively and cited the stalled Pwalugu Multipurpose Dam project as a glaring example of mismanagement.
“The project, which was designed to generate 10 megawatts of power and irrigate thousands of hectares of farmland, was abandoned after the outgoing administration cut the sod for it with pomp and pageantry. Nearly $12 million of taxpayers’ money has been wasted, and yet there is no tangible work done.”
President John Dramani Mahama
President Mahama indicated that the Attorney General, Dr Ayine, is reviewing the case as part of the government’s efforts to recover looted funds.
To rectify this imbalance, President Mahama announced plans to rescope and reevaluate stalled projects like the Pwalugu Multipurpose Dam for inclusion in the NDC’s Big Push infrastructure program.
He further outlined a strategy to combine poverty alleviation programs with structural reforms, leveraging the North’s comparative advantage in agriculture.
Transforming Upper East into an Agricultural and Industrial Hub
President Mahama detailed plans to unlock the Upper East Region’s agricultural and economic potential through targeted investments.
He underscored the region’s vast arable lands and emerging agribusiness ecosystem, which he believes could position it as a food security and agro-industrial hub for Ghana and West Africa.
To achieve this, his administration will prioritize irrigation development, rural infrastructure, and agro-processing investments.
He announced the completion of the Tamale Irrigation Project in Garu and Tempane, as well as the implementation of the Nasia-Nabogo Irrigation Project through a public-private partnership model.
Recognizing the importance of infrastructure, President Mahama pledged to fast-track efforts to unlock funds for key road projects, including the Bolgatanga-Bawku-Pulmakom Road, the resurfacing of the Tamale-Bolgatanga-Paga Road, and the construction of strategic link roads between the Upper East and Upper West Regions.
Commitment to Healthcare, Education, and Rural Electrification
On healthcare, President Mahama promised to upgrade the Navrongo Memorial Hospital and complete phase three of the Upper East Regional Hospital in Bolgatanga to enhance specialized healthcare services.
For education, he reaffirmed his commitment to addressing infrastructural deficits in secondary schools following the uncapping of the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund).
He announced the elimination of schools under trees and the provision of allowances to teachers who accept postings in underserved areas to improve retention.
To support schoolgirls, President Mahama disclosed that the government would commence the free distribution of sanitary pads to ensure menstrual hygiene does not hinder education.
Additionally, the school feeding program’s budget allocation per child has been increased to provide nutritious meals for students.
Rural electrification will also be expanded under phase two of the Turnkey Electrification Project, with a significant portion dedicated to off-grid solar solutions for remote communities.
Upper East Regional Airport and Economic Growth
President Mahama announced plans for the construction of the Upper East Regional Airport under a public-private partnership (PPP) model, in collaboration with gold mining companies in the region.
He explained that the airport would facilitate the safe transportation of gold bullion to Accra and boost regional connectivity for economic activities.
To address poor road maintenance, President Mahama revealed plans to reorganize the District Road Improvement Program (DRIP) into a more effective regional emergency mobile maintenance unit.
President Mahama concluded his address by calling for a united front in addressing the region’s challenges, emphasizing that sustainable development requires accountability, equity, and community participation.
“By delivering on these commitments, we will not only bridge developmental gaps but also position the Upper East Region as a hub for agribusiness, trade, and industrialization”.
President John Dramani Mahama
With his bold vision and commitment to action, President Mahama’s Thank You Tour in the Upper East Region has reignited hopes of economic transformation, infrastructural advancement, and social development, promising a new era of prosperity for the people of northern Ghana.
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