Agbodza pledges completion of stalled Bolga–Bawku road project

The Minister for Roads and Highways, Governs Kwame Agbodza, has reaffirmed government’s commitment to completing the long-abandoned Bolgatanga–Bawku–Pulmakom road project.

Construction on the critical transport corridor came to a standstill in March 2023 after the Brazilian construction firm, Queiroz Galvão MI, withdrew from site and removed its equipment. At the time, then Deputy Roads Minister and former Pru West MP, Stephen Pambiin Jalulah, attributed the halt to the government’s debt restructuring exercise.

Since then, no visible progress has been made, and the road has further deteriorated, particularly across stretches that were left unfinished.

While presenting the 2025 Budget Statement and Economic Policy, the Minister for Finance, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, revealed that 55 major infrastructure projects have stalled due to the bilateral creditor debt restructuring initiated by the previous administration. He indicated that the suspension of these projects had left $3 billion in undisbursed loans and over US$300 million in outstanding interim payment certificates (IPCs).

The Bolgatanga–Bawku–Pulmakom road was named among the affected projects, alongside the Effia Nkwanta Regional Hospital, Kejetia Market Phase II and the Tema–Aflao Road. Dr Forson warned that the delayed payments and demobilisation of contractors could result in cost overruns in excess of $1.1 billion.

He also noted that under the current IMF-supported programme, official bilateral loan disbursements are capped at US$250 million per annum—a constraint that could stretch completion timelines for all affected projects to more than 12 years.

However, during a working visit to the Upper East Region, Agbodza offered a glimmer of hope. He said the Ministry of Finance is actively exploring financing options to ensure the road project resumes as soon as possible.

“Government is determined to get this completed. The Finance Minister has been working closely with all stakeholders, particularly in the context of our debt restructuring. As you may be aware, the previous government announced that it could no longer service our debts, which led to the suspension of several projects, including yours.

“The restructuring has made significant headway, but funding for your project remains unresolved because it is commercial in nature—it does not fall under the category of projects for which negotiations have concluded. We are now looking to the Finance Minister for direction on the way forward,” he said.

The Upper East Regional Minister, Donatus Akamugri, also underscored the strategic importance of the road to the region. He pledged to consistently engage relevant authorities to ensure the project reaches completion.

Report by Mark Smith for Asaase News in the Upper East Region

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