By Celestine Avi and Seth Eyiah
President John Dramani Mahama has reaffirmed government’s commitment to completing the long-delayed Bolgatanga–Bawku–Pulmakom road project, with the remaining works now being financed from government’s own resources following the termination of the previous loan arrangement.
The President, accompanied by the Minister for Roads and Highways, Mr. Governs Kwame Agbodza, inspected the project during his two-day Resetting Ghana Tour of the Upper East Region.
President John Dramani Mahama says government is determined to complete the Bolgatanga–Bawku–Pulmakom road, which has suffered several setbacks since construction began.
He said the road is critical to the Upper East Region as it connects its eastern and western parts and will contribute to an improved road network linking the region to the Eastern Corridor.
The project, initially awarded to Brazilian contractor Queros Galvão, was suspended in 2016 amid investigations into the award of contracts. Work later resumed after the contractor secured financing but was halted again following Ghana’s economic crisis and debt defaults.
President Mahama said he subsequently directed the Ministry of Roads and Highways, led by Mr. Governs Kwame Agbodza, and the Ministry of Finance to secure the contractor’s return to site.
He said the previous loan arrangement has now been terminated, with government financing the remaining works from its own resources.
Although the project is not directly under the Big Push Programme, President Mahama described it as an associated Big Push project, assuring the contractor that certified works would be paid within the programme’s 30-day payment period.
He expressed confidence that the road would be completed by next year and commissioned thereafter.
President Mahama said government is also scoping the Nakpanduri–Garu–Kulungungu stretch to connect the road to the Eastern Corridor and create an alternative route to Accra.
He commended the contractor for its swift return to site and urged it to maintain the quality of work, assuring the company of timely payments to ensure completion on schedule.
