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Prez Mahama cuts sod for Big Push Agenda in Greater Accra
The President of the Republic of Ghana, John Dramani Mahama, has cut sod for the commencement of the Government’s Big Push Agenda for massive infrastructural development, starting with the construction of major road projects in the Greater Accra Region.
The ceremony took place on Tuesday September 15 at Afienya to mark the beginning of the Dawhenya Afienya Dodowa road project.
The President explained that the Big Push was a renewed commitment by his government to fix Ghana’s roads and open up the country for accelerated growth.
He recalled that the concept was first introduced in the National Democratic Congress manifesto in 2020 with plans to invest two billion dollars annually in infrastructure. However, the initiative was not implemented because the party lost the 2020 elections.
He noted that the plan was revived in 2024 when Ghanaians voted the NDC back into power. Since January 7 his government had been designing road projects across all sixteen regions, stressing that every region would benefit from the programme.
The President outlined three key criteria for the selection of projects under the Big Push. These include roads that connect regional capitals, roads that link district capitals, and roads located in food producing and industrial areas.
He announced that the first set of projects to commence included the Dawhenya Afienya Dodowa Road, the Tema Aflao dualization first phase, the Ashaiman Asikuma dualization, the Oyibi Apolonia Afienya Road, the Dodowa Somanya and Somanya Town Roads, and the Shai Hills Dodowa Road.
He further disclosed that stalled projects such as the Dome Kwabenya to Ketase Road, the Ofankor Nsawam Road, the Adenta Dodowa dualization, and the Beach Road from Black Star Square to Tema had been repackaged into the Big Push initiative.
The President emphasised that contractors for the projects were carefully selected based on their capacity, equipment, and ability to deliver on both quality and speed.
He explained that the majority of the contractors were Ghanaian in order to build local capacity.
He also made it clear that the programme was not meant for wheelbarrow contractors, although some foreign firms were included because they had ongoing contracts before the NDC returned to office.
He commended Oswal Investment Limited, one of the lead contractors, describing it as a reputable local firm committed to delivering speed and quality.
He assured Ghanaians that funding would not be a challenge and revealed that 13.9 billion Ghana cedis had been allocated for the Big Push in 2025, with an additional 30 billion set aside for 2026.
The President disclosed that the scope of the Big Push would expand in 2026 to include health, education, agriculture, agribusiness, and sports infrastructure.
He added that his government planned to introduce year round irrigation systems to boost food production, explaining that Ghana could no longer depend on six months of farming.
He also announced that 166 constituencies with the worst roads would each receive 10 kilometers of roads annually over four years, totaling 40 kilometers per constituency.
To ensure sustainability, he revealed that the Ghana Road Fund would dedicate 5 billion Ghana cedis annually to road maintenance, covering pothole patching, vegetation control, and desilting. He stressed that roads were vital for Ghana’s economic transformation, citing the example of how America’s development was boosted by early road and rail networks.
President Mahama concluded by assuring Ghanaians that his government was determined to deliver good roads across the country.
He expressed confidence that by 2027 citizens would see significant improvements in the quality and connectivity of roads nationwide.
The Minister for Roads and Highways, Governs Kwame Agbodz explained that the Big Push was not a campaign promise but a bold intervention by government to address Ghana’s road challenges.
The Minister disclosed that the Ministry of Roads and Highways owed contractors about 40 billion Ghana cedis, yet it was difficult to see what the money had been used for.
He noted that the new programme would be different and assured Ghanaians that results would be visible for all to witness.
He praised the staff of the ministry and its agencies for the work done in the past six months in preparing the projects.
He pledged that the projects under the Big Push would be completed within 24 months and expressed confidence that the contractor on the Afienya stretch could finish even earlier.
The Minister stressed that the programme would demonstrate the capacity of local contractors.
He stated that the Big Push would prove that Ghanaian contractors were as capable as their counterparts elsewhere while creating jobs and delivering lasting infrastructure.
He explained that all contractors and consultants working under the programme would be required to take insurance cover which would be cashed if they failed to deliver.
He urged that contractors must focus on the work and not run to government with complaints.
The Minister assured residents that all projects awarded under the initiative were starting simultaneously.
He cited ongoing works on stretches from Central University to the motorway, Kasoa, and from Ashaiman roundabout to Atimpoku, pledging their completion within 24 months.
He encouraged contractors to employ young graduates in engineering and surveying and invest in the training of the next generation of Ghanaian professionals.
Local mattress manufacturers have raised serious concerns over the influx of substandard mattresses, warning that these products pose significant health risks to consumers and threaten the sustainability of Ghana’s mattress industry.
At a press briefing held in Kumasi on Tuesday, manufacturers accused unregistered foreign entities, particularly Chinese firms, of flooding the market with cheap mattresses made from polystyrene.
Mr Yaw Ampem Darko, a spokesperson for the local manufacturers, warned that prolonged use of substandard mattresses, especially those made with polystyrene, could result in chronic back pain, musculoskeletal disorders, poor posture, and diminished sleep quality.
These health implications, they stressed, were not always immediately evident but accumulate over time, especially among vulnerable populations such as children and the elderly.
This material, typically used for packaging, is considered unsuitable and unsafe for bedding.
According to industry leaders, these sub-standard products have been circulating for at least five years, gaining traction among unsuspecting consumers due to their unusually low prices.
“These mattresses are being sold at suspiciously low prices, luring unsuspecting consumers who are unaware of the health dangers.”
“We are not just protecting our businesses; we are protecting Ghanaian lives. The government must act swiftly to stem this tide before more citizens fall victim to these dangerous products,” Mr Yaw Ampem Darko stated.
The Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) has acknowledged the issue and, in response, announced a nationwide enforcement campaign aimed at clamping down on the production, distribution, and sale of substandard mattresses.
The campaign, which was scheduled to take effect from September 30, 2025, was empowered by the GSA Act, 2022 (Act 1078), which authorises the Authority to seize and seal non-compliant products and impose sanctions on offenders.
In a statement signed by the Director General of the GSA, Professor George Agyei, the authority cited Sections 29 and 43 of the Act, reiterating that all mattresses sold in Ghana must meet established national standards or face confiscation.
The statement further emphasised that mattresses failing to meet these standards not only compromise sleep quality but also contribute to long-term health complications, including spinal and neck pain.
Despite the GSA’s commitment, manufacturers have expressed frustration over delays in implementation and called for stronger enforcement mechanisms.
They urged the GSA to work in close collaboration with the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority and national law enforcement agencies to identify and prosecute violators of Ghana’s quality standards.
Manufacturers are also appealing to consumers to remain vigilant and prioritise their health by verifying that any mattress they purchase bears the GSA certification mark.
Moreover, they caution the public against purchasing suspiciously cheap mattresses that lack proper labelling or identifiable branding, as these were often indicators of substandard or counterfeit products.
As the official enforcement deadline had expired with no show, the local producers insisted that much more than business interests were at stake.
They argued that without swift and sustained action, the health and safety of Ghanaian consumers would continue to be compromised.
“Public awareness, strict enforcement, and collaboration among regulatory bodies are essential if we are to protect the integrity of the local industry and the wellbeing of the Ghanaian people,” Mr Darko indicated.
From Kingsley E. Hope, Kumasi
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The Founder of the Raissa Child Protection Initiative, Ms Raissa Sambou, has urged authorities to impose severe punishment on individuals, including teachers and guardians, who sexually abuse young girls.
Speaking in an interview to mark this year’s International Day of the Girl Child (October 11), Ms Sambou condemned the increasing cases of sexual exploitation involving minors, describing such acts as “heartless, criminal, and a total betrayal of trust.”
She noted that those entrusted with the care and education of children must not be the same people who violate them, stressing that “anyone found guilty of abusing a girl child must face the full rigours of the law without leniency.”
The International Day of the Girl Child is observed annually to promote the rights of girls, empower them to reach their full potential, and draw attention to the challenges they face worldwide.
Ms Sambou lamented that poverty continues to push many young girls into vulnerable situations, exposing them to exploitation.
She expressed concern that some headmasters, teachers, and community members who should protect girls rather take advantage of them.
“This must stop immediately. The safety of every girl must never be compromised,” she said, urging the public to report all forms of abuse to the appropriate authorities and called for swift action by law enforcement agencies against perpetrators.
Addressing girls directly, Ms Sambou encouraged them to take their education seriously and to believe in their potential.
“It is possible to be young and responsible. Your future is bright, protect it, believe in it, and never let anyone dim your light,” she advised.
She further urged girls to choose their friends wisely, stay disciplined, and speak up if anyone makes sexual advances toward them.
Ms Sambou concluded with a rallying call for collective action, saying “speak up, protect them, and empower them. Together, we can end the sexual exploitation of girls.”
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
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