Local contractors are breathing a sigh of relief as government begins awarding contracts under its flagship infrastructure programme, The Big Push.
According to President John Mahama, the initiative demonstrates confidence in Ghanaian contractors and their capacity to deliver quality roads.
“The majority of the contractors selected for the big push are Ghanaian. We believe we must build the capacity of our own contractors. We believe in the performance and ingenuity of the Ghanaian contractor,” he affirmed.
The President made the remarks on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, when he cut the sod for the construction of the Afienya–Dodowa road in the Greater Accra Region.
He later performed a similar ceremony for the Atimpoku–Aflao road in the Volta Region.
Two leading local firms, Oswal Investments Limited and First Sky Construction Limited, have been awarded contracts to complete the projects within 24 months.
The works will also cover selected town roads in the Volta and Greater Accra regions.
Under the big push, road construction is expected to take place across all 16 regions.
President Mahama assured contractors of timely payments, stating that government, through the Finance Minister, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, has made funds available to settle certificates within two weeks of submission.
“This year, the Minister of Finance, on my instruction, put aside 13.9 billion cedis, almost 14 billion, for the big push alone. Much of that money has not been used yet because we’re still packaging and going through procurement. We’re rolling it over to next year, and we will add 30 billion cedis more. That is why I say payments will not be a problem,” he stressed.
He further emphasized that beyond new road construction, government will prioritize maintenance.
“We’re not only constructing new roads; we’re also going to maintain them. Every year, the Ghana Road Fund will put aside about five billion cedis for road maintenance alone, pothole patching, desalting, grass cutting, and all the things that keep the roads in good shape,” the President added.
Source: Myxyzonline.com/Wisdom Hedezome
