Last Wednesday, during my contribution to the debate on the 2025 Mid-Year Budget Statement; amidst heckling and interruptions from colleagues on the other side of the House; I delivered a well-reasoned, development-focused submission on the government's so-called "Big Push Programme" on roads. I stated, based on facts and planning logic, that the program appears disproportionately skewed toward certain regions while neglecting the Greater Accra and Ashanti Regions: two of Ghana's most urbanized and densely populated areas, which together account for over 35% of the national population and serve as the economic heartbeat of our country.

My comments were grounded purely in sound development planning and the fundamental economic principle of prioritisation: that when resources are scarce, they must be directed where they can generate the highest impact. I emphasized the need to invest in roads that connect economic hubs and high-density population centers in order to drive national growth, attract investment, and create jobs for our people.

Unfortunately, my remarks have since been deliberately twisted by a section of the public, obviously for political gains. Rather than engage with the substance of my argument, they have resorted to false accusations, claiming I said roads should not be constructed in Northern Ghana. Others have chosen to mock my reference to "driving for over 50 miles without seeing a human being,” conveniently taking the phrase out of its clear context to score cheap political points.

Let me set the record straight: I have never, and will never, suggest that any part of Ghana, including the North, does not deserve development. As a proud Ghanaian who believes in inclusive national progress, I fully support equitable infrastructure investment across all regions. In fact, as Minister for Roads and Highways, I personally initiated and championed various road projects in the North; projects I remain proud of to this day.

That said, strategic infrastructure planning must be evidence-based, economically sound, and growth-oriented. That was the core of my argument on the floor of Parliament. As a legislator, a former Minister, and a development planner by training, I have a duty to speak truthfully and advocate for policies that advance the long-term national interest, even when it is politically inconvenient to do so.

I will not be distracted or discouraged by distortions and mischief. Let us rise above partisan spin and elevate our national discourse. Ghana deserves honest, mature, and informed debate, not the reckless weaponization of facts for political expediency.

Sincerely,

Francis Asenso-Boakye, MP Bantama / Member, Roads and Transport Committee & former Minister for Roads and Highways