SONA 2026: "Ghana is going to become a construction site" - Prez Mahama

President John Dramani Mahama has announced an ambitious nationwide infrastructure program, pledging to transform the country’s transport network and boost economic growth. He made the statement during the 2026 State of the Nation Address delivered in Parliament on Friday.

The President revealed that his government inherited substantial arrears owed to road contractors, with GH¢5.43 billion lodged with the Ghana Road Fund Secretariat still awaiting payment, excluding accruing interest.

In addition, more than GH¢104 billion in signed road contracts were inherited, many without secured funding for timely completion.

By the end of 2025, nearly GH¢10 billion in arrears had been cleared, and efforts continue to reduce outstanding debts in the sector.

At the heart of this initiative is the Big Push infrastructure program, designed to restore critical national infrastructure, open economic corridors, create jobs, and lower the cost of doing business.

Work has commenced on 15 major road projects covering 1,144 kilometers at an estimated cost of GH¢50 billion, while 23 previously awarded projects spanning 573 kilometers and costing GH¢15 billion are also being completed.

In total, approximately 2,000 kilometers of roads are undergoing rehabilitation across the country.

A total of 73 projects are advancing across all 16 regions, including key arteries such as the Kumasi Bypass Road, Suami Interchange, Sunyani Outer Ring Road, dualization of Accra-Aflao, and Cape Coast-Takoradi, among others.

Numerous feeder roads, including Afosu-Godjakiti-Kudupe, Kodingkope-Yenyam Junction, and Sedom-Afeghi-Sompakadan, are also under development.

President Mahama emphasized, “the whole of Ghana is going to become a construction site,” noting that Ghanaians are already witnessing major road works across the country.

Among flagship projects, the Accra-Tama Expressway is set to become a 198.7-kilometer, six-lane corridor, further enhancing connectivity and supporting the government’s vision for economic expansion.

This historic investment marks the largest single commitment to Ghana’s road sector in the nation’s history, signaling a bold push to modernize infrastructure and accelerate national development.

Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith