President John Dramani Mahama has directed the Ministry of Roads and Highways to take all necessary steps to ensure the completion of the Bolgatanga-Bawku-Polimakom Road by the end of 2027, as government intensifies efforts to unlock economic opportunities in the Upper East Region. Minister for Roads and Highways, Kwame Governs Agbodza, disclosed the directive during the President’s Citizens Engagement in the Upper East Region, assuring residents that contractors working on the road would remain on site until the project is completed.
The commitment places the strategic road project at the centre of government’s broader development agenda for the region, particularly as the restoration of calm in Bawku creates what President Mahama described as an opportunity to accelerate development and improve livelihoods. The President said the government would use the improved security environment to pursue interventions aimed at strengthening agriculture, expanding local industries and creating sustainable employment, particularly for young people. A major component of the plan is the rehabilitation of the Pwalugu Tomato Factory to revive local tomato processing and strengthen the agricultural value chain.
Government also intends to expand onion production as part of measures to reduce Ghana’s dependence on imported onions and create additional opportunities for farmers and agro-processors in the region. President Mahama said job creation remains a central priority as the economy stabilizes, stressing the need to translate improving macroeconomic conditions into tangible economic opportunities for the youth. He also reiterated government’s commitment to improving road connectivity between Bolgatanga and Wa, which he said was critical to facilitating the movement of people, goods and services and opening up economic opportunities across northern Ghana.
The engagement also highlighted planned institutional and constitutional reforms. Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Dr Dominic Akuritinga Ayine, announced plans to establish a Constitution Review Implementation Committee to begin work on implementing recommendations from the constitutional review process that have been accepted by government. Dr Ayine also outlined government’s ongoing legal work and court proceedings, signalling a continued focus on strengthening public institutions and advancing reforms within the justice system. The proposed implementation committee is expected to provide a structured mechanism for translating accepted constitutional recommendations into concrete measures, subject to the applicable legal and institutional processes.
Education Minister, Haruna Iddrisu, announced a number of projects aimed at expanding access to specialized and modern educational infrastructure. Among the initiatives is the planned expansion of a state-of-the-art STEM institution in Bolgatanga, which is expected to strengthen science, technology, engineering and mathematics education in the region. Mr Iddrisu also announced plans for the construction of special-needs education schools in Ho and Sunyani, widening government’s focus on inclusive education and specialized learning facilities. In addition, work is expected to begin on regional libraries in the Ahafo and Volta regions, forming part of efforts to improve access to educational resources and promote reading and research.
President Mahama linked the development agenda for the Upper East Region directly to the restoration of peace in Bawku, saying the improved atmosphere provides an opportunity to move beyond conflict and concentrate on economic and social development. The President’s emphasis on agriculture, roads, industrial rehabilitation and employment reflects an attempt to position the region’s productive sectors as engines of growth while improving infrastructure and public services. The Bolgatanga-Bawku-Polimakom Road is particularly significant to that agenda, given its importance to transportation and economic activity in the eastern corridor of the Upper East Region.
With the government setting an end-2027 completion target and promising to keep contractors on site, attention will now turn to the pace of construction and the government’s ability to sustain financing and implementation until the project is delivered. The Citizens Engagement formed part of President Mahama’s broader efforts to communicate government policies directly to citizens while receiving concerns and expectations from communities. The engagements are also providing government ministers with a platform to outline sector-specific interventions and demonstrate how national policies are expected to translate into development at the regional and local levels.
By: Joyce Owusu
