President John Dramani Mahama has assured Ghanaians that work on the government’s flagship Big Push infrastructure projects will resume at full speed once the current heavy rains subside.
The President explained that persistent rainfall across the country has temporarily slowed construction activities on several project sites, stressing that the decision was taken to ensure the safety of workers and maintain the quality of ongoing road works.
Speaking during an inspection of the Kafodzidzi road project as part of his working visit to the Central Region on Friday, June 26, President Mahama said the slowdown is only temporary, adding that contractors will return to full-scale operations as soon as weather conditions improve.
“The Big Push projects around the country have slowed down because of the heavy rainfall we’ve been experiencing recently. I’m sure that as soon as the rainfall subsides, work will continue because money for the Big Push has been allocated and it is lying there,” he said.
President Mahama assured contractors that funds for the projects are readily available and pledged that payments would be processed promptly once work resumes.
“As soon as the rainfall subsides, we promise that it will be processed and you will get your money quickly. The contractors should speed up so that they can present their certificates and be paid so that they can go back to work,” he stated.
The President reaffirmed the government’s commitment to expanding the country’s road infrastructure, saying efforts are underway to deliver as many road projects as possible under the current phase of the Big Push programme.
He also disclosed that preparations are underway for Phase Two of the initiative, which is expected to commence next year.
“We are scoping Phase Two of the Big Push to start next year. For those whose roads have not been tackled yet, they could come under Phase Two. We will continue to improve the road network because we know that the main means of transport for passengers and goods in Ghana is the roads,” he added.
Meanwhile, President Mahama also pledged that the government would make adequate budgetary allocations in the next national budget to preserve Ghana’s historical sites.
The assurance comes amid concerns over possible sanctions by UNESCO, which has warned that some of Ghana’s World Heritage Sites risk being delisted due to inadequate buffer zones and encroachment.
The Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Abla Dzifa Gomashie, appealed to traditional authorities and local communities to support government efforts to protect and preserve the country’s historical and cultural heritage for future generations.
