President Mahama vows to build Upper East regional airport under PPP model
Speaking during his Thank You Tour, President Mahama announced that he has directed the managing director of Ghana Airports Company Ltd to begin sourcing funds for the project
President John Dramani Mahama has pledged to push for the construction of an airport in the Upper East Region in efforts to unlock the region’s economic potential.
Speaking during his Thank You Tour, he announced that he has directed the managing director of Ghana Airports Company Ltd to begin sourcing funds for the project.
“I’ve asked the managing director of the Ghana Airports Company to commence the sourcing of funding for the construction of the Upper East Regional Airport,” President Mahama said.
“We intend to do this under a public-private partnership (PPP) model, in conjunction with the gold mining companies in this region, since this will allow them also to airlift their gold bullion safely to Accra, directly from the Upper East Region.”
The president emphasised that developing the Upper East Region’s infrastructure will be essential for enhancing the region’s role in Ghana’s agricultural and industrial transformation.
“It is necessary for us to unlock Ghana’s full economic potential by ensuring that every region contributes at its fullest capacity to national development,” he said.
As part of his broader plan, he has tasked the Finance Minister with fast-tracking funds for stalled infrastructure projects in the region, recognising “not only the region’s strategic role in Ghana’s quest for agricultural and industrial transformation, but also the need to bridge the development gap”.
Among the key road projects he highlighted for completion are the Bolgatanga-Bawku-Pulmakom Road, which will improve access to markets for farmers and businesses, and the resurfacing of the Tamale-Bolgatanga-Paga Road, which he described as being “in a very poor condition”.
In addition, he outlined plans for road links between Bolgatanga and Wa, as well as the strategic development of the Navrongo-Sandema-Fumbisi-Daboya Road, which he noted “is a short cut that brings you out through Daboya to Bosno, and then you turn left to the Damongo Junction, and then you continue to Buipe, Kintampo, Techiman, and then to Kumasi”.
All-year-round farming
Addressing rural electrification, President Mahama revealed plans to expand connections under phase two of the Ten Key Electrification Projects. He noted that “a good portion of the electrification programme would also include off-grid solar for communities that are too far away from the transmission grid”, ensuring that more areas benefit from electricity access.
To bolster agriculture, he announced that his administration will complete the Tamne Irrigation Project in the Garu-Tempane area, enabling year-round farming. “To further unlock the region’s agricultural potential, we intend to complete the Tamni Irrigation Project to allow all-year-round farming in the Garu-Tempane area of the Upper East Region,” he said.
The stalled Pwalugu Multipurpose Dam project will also be revived under his government’s Big Push Infrastructure initiative. “We will invest in the Pwalugu Multipurpose Dam under the Big Push Infrastructure project to complete it, so that it becomes a benefit for the Upper East Region,” the president said.
Furthermore, he disclosed plans to update the SADA Feasibility Study and implement the Nasia-Nabogo Irrigation Project under a PPP arrangement to secure reliable water supply for all-year-round farming and agro-processing.
Upgrade for Navrongo hospital
President Mahama further announced his plans for expanding health care in the Upper East, pledging to upgrade the Navrongo War Memorial Hospital.
“Among the other projects we are targeting for completion and upgrading [are] the Navrongo War Memorial Hospital, to upgrade the facilities there to enhance medical services and support medical training,” he said.
He also assured residents that development and expansion work on the Upper East Regional Hospital in Bolgatanga will be completed to enhance specialised health-care services.
“We also will commence and complete phase three of the Upper East Regional Hospital here in Bolga to enhance specialised health-care services for the residents of the Upper East Region,” he said.
The president reiterated that these projects form part of his broader vision to ensure that every region in Ghana contributes at its fullest capacity to national development, ultimately fostering economic growth and improving livelihoods in the Upper East Region.
Reporting by Mark Smith in the Upper East Region
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