Mahama’s $10bn ‘Big Push’ Takes Off

Ghana has officially entered what President John Dramani Mahama calls a “new era of accelerated development” with the launch of the Big Push Programme, a $10 billion infrastructure initiative designed to modernise the country, create jobs and revive abandoned projects.

Speaking at a sod cutting ceremony at Dodowa-Afienya in the Greater Accra Region and later in Ho, the Volta Regional capital yesterday, President Mahama declared that the long-awaited programme, promised during the 2024 elections, had finally been delivered.

“A baby is being born. And that baby is a healthy, bouncing Big Push baby. It was conceived in 2020, but suffered a miscarriage when we lost the elections.

In 2024, it was conceived again. And today, on 16th September, 2025 we are delivering that bouncing baby,” President Mahama said.

The Big Push Vision

The Big Push Programme, central to the 2025 Mid-Year Fiscal Policy Review, will inject $10 billion (GH¢120 billion) over four years into roads, bridges, water systems and other essential infrastructure.

According to President Mahama, the initiative seeks to: Prioritise the completion of uncompleted and abandoned government projects.

Revamp the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund (GIIF) to drive self-financing projects, expand and rehabilitate water supply systems for equitable access across communities.

The President stressed that, “This is not just about roads. It is about resetting the economy for the Ghana we want.

“From roads to hospitals, from schools to water supply, the Big Push will transform Ghana into a construction site.”

To assure contractors of timely payment, he announced that GH¢14 billion has already been set aside in 2025 budget, while GH¢30 billion will be allocated in 2026, with a strict two-week payment timeline for certified works.

A dedicated Big Push Secretariat will monitor projects nationwide in real time.

Focus on Neglected Roads

While the programme cuts across multiple sectors, roads dominate the agenda. President Mahama argued that reliable road networks are the backbone of development and pledged that no contractor would be given an unnecessarily long stretch of road, ensuring faster completion.

He explained that it was not coincidental that the launch happened in Dodowa–Afienya and Ho, describing them as areas that had endured some of the worst neglect in recent years.

“Year in, year out, the chiefs have cried for repair and maintenance of their roads. Roads that were commenced before 2016 were abandoned and have not seen any maintenance.

“It is not out of place that Volta Region is among the regions with the biggest share of the Big Push,” he said.

Among the road projects highlighted, the Dodowa-Afienya-Dawhenya Road has been earmarked for complete reconstruction.

This artery is expected to significantly ease traffic congestion and open up surrounding communities to investment.

Closely linked to this is the Oyibi-Appolonia-Afienya Road, which will be upgraded to improve mobility between Accra’s fast-growing peri-urban settlements. Together, these roads form a strategic transport corridor for commuters, traders, and industries.

In the Volta Region, President Mahama confirmed the rehabilitation of the Anyirawasi-Ho-Tritrinu Road, as well as the Ho–Kpetoe Road, both of which have long been complaints of residents and chiefs. The Kpetoe–Afiadenyigba Road and surrounding town roads in Ziope and Atiavi are also slated for rehabilitation, opening up access for farmers and traders across the region.

“These are roads I know personally. I have campaigned on them, I have driven on them, and I know the suffering of the people who live along them. That is why they have been given priority under the Big Push,” Mahama said.

Mahama cautioned Ghanaians to expect some inconvenience as the country transforms into a massive construction site.

“From the launch of this Big Push, the whole of Ghana is going to become a construction site,” he said. “When you are driving, there will be some inconvenience, but let us suffer to gain. Let us bear with the contractors,” he added.

He further appealed to contractors to recruit Ghanaian graduates in civil, mechanical, and electrical engineering, to give young people opportunities in the booming construction industry.

The Big Push was one of the flagship promises of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) during the 2024 elections. Its roots trace back to 2020, when Mahama, then in opposition, first proposed it as a bold strategy to industrialise Ghana. At the time, he lost the elections, leaving the idea in limbo.

Five years later, the project has become reality, positioning itself as a cornerstone of his presidency.

He insisted, “This is not just about politics. It is about leaving a legacy of infrastructure that will last into the future. Roads that will stand the test of time, hospitals that will serve our children, water systems that will reach every home.”

 

 

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