Eight months into government, President Mahama has partly delivered a major campaign promise to the people of the Volta Region in the 2024 electioneering.
He pledged to improve the status of some major road networks in the region, particularly the roads connecting the national capital to the border community of Aflao, and to rehabilitate major road networks
In effect, President Mahama on Tuesday, September 16, performed the ceremonial sod cutting and launch of the Big Push Initiative, which would see some major road networks constructed in the region and across the country.
The project in the Volta Region included the rehabilitation of the 177.2 kilometres Atimpoku to Aflao road, with a bypass at Ho, the regional capital. The design also proposes a bypass along the Aflao beach to the border, heading into neighbouring Togo.
First Sky Limited, one of the Ghanaian firms picked for the project would undertake construction from Anyirawase through Ho to Denu.
Other roads to be constructed under the Big Push Initiative include Adaklu Waya – Kpetoe, Sokode – Juapong, Anyirawase – Bame, Have – Hohoe, selected roads in the Ho, Hohoe, Ketu North and South Municipalities, Adaklu Waya – Seva – Mafi Kumasi junction, Anfoega – Wusuta, Ho – Takla, dualization of Dzodze township roads, Tanyigbe township roads, and others.
Addressing the enthused gathering of Chiefs and people from the Volta Region in Ho, he chronicled the neglect of the region’s road network, making it one of the deprived regions across the country, and hence has the biggest share of the Big Push Initiative.
He said being the President who had campaigned the most (2008 – 2024), exposed him to the state of all roads across the country and identified that prime among the major needs of the people is good roads, as emphasized by a chief during a campaign spree.
Learning this, he illustrated how he had tasked the Roads Minister to leave an indelible mark in the sector by earmarking and undertaking projects to uplift the status of the country’s road networks.
President Mahama assured the timely completion of the project, stressing the availability of funding, logistics and human resources.
“There is not going to be a delay in payment. The Big Push is a 10 billion dollar project, when converted into Cedis, it is 120 billion Cedis over four years. We started this year with enough money because we realised that the packaging and everything would take half of the year.”
“And so this year, the Finance Minister allocated GH¢14 billion to the Big Push. So all these roads that are starting, the money is sitting in the Bank and waiting to pay them. I have spoken with the Minister and he is allocating GH¢30 billion to the Big Push.”
He said that a Secretariat would be established at the Office of the President that would monitor projects under the Big Push initiative across the country and report directly to him to keep him informed about the progress of work.
President Mahama stressed that the distribution of the projects among contractors makes it easy for them to complete their lots within 24 months, adding that the entire country would become a construction site during his second term, rendering an apology to Ghanaians.
The Roads and Highways Minister, Kwame Governs Agbodza, took a swipe at the New Patriotic Party (NPP) for failing to facelift the Ho-Aflao road, though budgetary allocations were made with an assurance from the then Finance Minister.
Describing the Project as a Legacy of President John Mahama and the NDC, he directed the constructors to work all day round in alignment with the government’s 24-hour Policy.
“Under the Big Push, all the projects are going to be done under 24-economy. Day and night they have to work”, he stressed.
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Source: myjoyonline.com
