President John Dramani Mahama has officially cut sod at Afienya in the Greater Accra Region to commence works under his government’s 10-billion-dollar Big Push Infrastructure Agenda, a flagship initiative to transform Ghana’s infrastructure base and drive inclusive economic growth.
The ceremony, attended by traditional leaders, government officials, contractors, and community members, marks the beginning of multiple road projects across the country.
In Afienya, the President launched construction of the Dodowa–Afienya–Dawhenya Road, which he described as a “promise made, promise delivered,” recalling assurances he gave residents during the 2024 election campaign.
President Mahama explained that the ‘Big Push’ was born out of the urgent need to bridge Ghana’s annual infrastructure deficit of 1.5 billion dollars, particularly in the road sector. The programme, first proposed in 2020 but delayed after the NDC’s electoral loss, has now been revived following the party’s return to power in 2024.
“The Big Push touches all 16 regions of our country. Our first priority is to connect regional capitals, then link districts, and finally, improve roads in food-producing and industrial areas. This way, every region benefits, and no community is left behind,” the President said.
The Afienya sod-cutting covers several key roads, including:
*Dodowa–Afienya–Dawhenya Road
* Dualisation of the Tema–Aflao Road (first phase)
* Dualisation of the Ashaiman–Asutuare Road
* Oyibi–Apollonia–Afienya Road
* Dodowa–Somanya and Somanya Township Roads
* Shai Hills–Doryumu–Dodowa Road
Other stalled roads such as the Dome–Kitase stretch, Ofankor–Nsawam, and the Adenta–Dodowa dualisation have been repackaged under the Big Push to ensure timely completion.
President Mahama emphasised that the majority of contractors selected are Ghanaians, reflecting his government’s commitment to building local capacity. He assured residents that financing will not hinder progress, revealing that ₵13.9 billion has already been set aside for the programme this year, with an additional ₵30 billion to be added next year.
Beyond roads, the Big Push will also expand into health, education, agriculture, and sports infrastructure from 2026.
Plans include irrigation systems to support year-round farming, improved district roads, and a dedicated annual budget of ₵5 billion for road maintenance.
The President stressed that roads are central to Ghana’s economic transformation:
“This is the start of our economic transformation, opening up our country with roads, railways, and aviation so that goods, services, and people can move freely. Every kilometre built is a step towards prosperity.”
Residents at Afienya welcomed the project, expressing hope that it would ease traffic congestion, improve trade, and create jobs for young people.
The Big Push Infrastructure Agenda is expected to deliver modern, durable road networks across all 16 regions, creating thousands of jobs while boosting agriculture, industry, and trade.
