Mahama: Big Push road projects to be executed in phases due to funding constraints

President John Dramani Mahama has explained that the government’s ambitious Big Push road programme will be implemented in phases because the country does not have the financial capacity to tackle all road projects at the same time.

The President acknowledged growing expectations from communities across the country for roads to be fixed but stressed that government must work within available resources.

His comments come as the administration pushes ahead with its flagship infrastructure programme, which is aimed at addressing Ghana’s long-standing road infrastructure deficit.

‘We cannot fix every road at once’

President Mahama reportedly explained that many communities expect their roads to be addressed immediately, but government has to prioritise projects because of budgetary constraints.

The approach, he said, is to implement the Big Push in stages rather than attempting to execute every project simultaneously.

This means some roads will receive attention earlier, while others will have to wait for subsequent phases as funding becomes available.

Major roads to receive priority

Under the phased strategy, government is expected to prioritise major arterial roads and projects considered critical to transportation, economic activity and connectivity.

The objective is to ensure that available resources are channelled into projects with significant national and regional impact rather than spreading funding too thinly across numerous projects.

The strategy is also intended to allow government to maintain focus on completing projects instead of creating a situation where numerous roads are started but left unfinished.

Big Push comes with huge expectations

The Big Push programme has generated considerable expectations since the Mahama administration made road infrastructure a major component of its development agenda.

The programme covers road construction and rehabilitation across different parts of the country, with government seeking to address roads that have remained in poor condition for years.

According to Ghana’s 2026 Budget, road contracts worth GH¢63 billion had been awarded under the Big Push, with the projects estimated to generate about 490,000 jobs.

Funding remains a major challenge

The President’s latest explanation highlights the financial reality facing the programme.

While the demand for better roads remains enormous, government has to balance infrastructure spending with other competing national priorities.

The phased approach therefore allows the administration to match the implementation of projects with available funding.

Rather than promising that every road will be fixed immediately, Mahama is asking Ghanaians to expect a gradual rollout based on priorities and resources.

Government promises quality and durable roads

The administration has also sought to distinguish the Big Push from the practice of starting numerous projects without completing them.

The emphasis, according to reports, is on delivering roads that are properly constructed and durable.

The government’s position is that available funds must be used efficiently to produce infrastructure that can serve communities and businesses for years.

The road ahead

President Mahama’s comments are likely to generate mixed reactions, particularly from communities that have been waiting for road projects promised under the Big Push.

For residents dealing with deteriorating roads, the expectation remains that government will translate its infrastructure plans into visible improvements.

But with funding constraints limiting how quickly the programme can move, the government is now making its implementation strategy clear: not every road can be fixed at once, and the Big Push will have to move in phases.

The success of the strategy will ultimately depend on whether government can secure and sustain the financing needed to move projects from one phase to the next — and, most importantly, complete them.