Mr Kwame Governs Agbodza is the Minister of Roads and Highways. He has assured the chiefs and people of the Upper East Region. The Bolgatanga-Bawku-Pulmakom road will be complete.
Speaking during a working visit to the project site in Bolgatanga, the Minister reiterated the current government’s commitment. The government aims to secure sustainable funding to complete the project. This completion would bring relief to the residents and boost business.
“We are all familiar with the history of this project; it is one of the unfortunate things,” Mr Agbodza said.
This project started under the Roads Fund. However, the scope quickly changed. This made it difficult to fund under the Roads Fund. As a result, funding was changed to a Commercial Facility. Parliament approved this change. Unfortunately, that was what we were doing before the debt issue happened.
He said the government had prioritised the project as one of its critical roads. It would receive serious attention. The Ministry of Finance was working to secure funds for work to resume in earnest.
“The Finance Minister has been working together with all concerned in terms of our debt restructuring, and so we are waiting for the directions of the Finance Minister on this project so we can get funds to complete it”, he said.
The Minister informed the project contractors that the Bolgatanga-Bawku-Pulmakom road held significant importance to the government. He added, “That is why the government has been trying to do it since 2016 or even earlier. We can only encourage you to continue with what you are doing while the issue of the financing is concluded.”
Mr Donatus Atanga Akamugri, the Upper East Regional Minister, said the Roads Minister’s visit demonstrated the government’s commitment. They are serious about the roads and development of the region.
The Regional Minister pointed out that the Bolgatanga-Bawku-Pulmakom road was an international road. He described it as “the heartbeat” of the region. This road connected the country to the Sahelian region. The Minister urged the Roads Minister not to disappoint the residents.
“This road links to the Eastern Corridor Road and it makes the road infrastructure complete if this road is done but if the government completes the Eastern Corridor Road without this project, it is still incomplete.” He stressed.
Mr Akamugri noted that there was a lot of investment potential in the region. He expressed confidence that the Bawku conflict would be resolved soon. When the road is completed, it will boost business and the local economy.
“We want to urge the Roads and Finance Ministers to expedite action on the project. I will also follow up with my Members of Parliament to mount pressure on the Finance and Roads Ministers to ensure that they do the needful for the people of Upper East Region”, he said.
The Bolgatanga-Bawku-Pulmakom road project began in the latter part of 2016. It was expected to be completed in two and a half years.However, the contractors left the site with their equipment for about a year due to the non-payment of arrears.
The preliminary contract sum for the project was GH¢613 million, but it was later revised to 127 million Euros.
The project was awarded to two construction firms: Mawums Construction Limited, a Ghanaian company, and Queiroz Galvao, a Brazilian company.
Upon the new government’s assumption of office in 2017, the project was repackaged and rewarded to the same companies.
The work on the project had stalled since the beginning of 2023, when this report was filed.
The 117-kilometre road passes through six political districts of the Upper East Region. These are Bolgatanga Municipal, Bolgatanga East District, Nabdam District, Bawku West District, Binduri District, Bawku Municipal, and Pusiga District.
The international road links Ghana to neighbouring countries. These include Burkina Faso, Mali, Togo, and Niger. The road’s completion is expected to boost internal trade. It will also enhance global trade.
Mr Agbodza inspected the Bolgatanga-Sherigu-Naaga road. He was accompanied by his deputy, Mr Alhassan Suhuyini. The construction had also stalled.
