The Upper West Parliamentary Caucus, led by its leader, Daffiama-Bussie-Issa MP Dr Sebastian Sandaare, has inspected ongoing works on the N12 Bole-Sawla-Wa highway as part of a tour of projects under the government’s Big Push programme.

The delegation, joined by Upper West Regional Minister Charles Lwanga Puozuing and the Regional Security Council (REGSEC), visited sections of the highway at Tuna, Kulmasa and Gindabuo to assess progress and the security conditions for contractors working on the project.

The inspection showed ongoing road clearing, drainage works, repairs to damaged sections and asphalt works.

Speaking during a whistle-stop at Tuna, Regional Minister Charles Lwanga Puozuing said the level of activity on the project contradicted reports that little or no work was being done.

“It is not as we have been hearing that there is no work being done. So far, we are impressed,” he said.

He commended the contractor but urged the company to increase the pace of work and, where necessary, deploy additional gangs to ensure the project is completed on schedule or ahead of schedule.

Mr Puozuing also assured residents of the Upper West Region that the government was committed to completing the road.

“I assure the people of Upper West that His Excellency John Dramani Mahama will ensure that before he leaves at the end of 2028 or 6th January 2029, this road will be asphalted for us to conveniently travel to the southern part of Ghana,” he said.

The presence of REGSEC officials, including police, military and other security personnel, was intended to assure contractors of the necessary security to enable them to work around the clock.

Site Manager and Quantity Surveyor for Melpuoma Limited, Samuel Asante, said the company’s workers were operating throughout the week, with some concrete gangs working as late as 2 am.

The project, which is scheduled for completion in 2028, is currently about four per cent complete, with the contractor expressing optimism about completing it ahead of schedule.

Jobs, security and development

For Wa West MP and former police officer Supt. (Rtd) Peter Lanchene Toobu, the project demonstrates the connection between road infrastructure, employment and security.

He said President John Dramani Mahama’s promise to turn Ghana into a construction site had initially appeared ambitious to some, but the Big Push programme was now making that vision visible.

“When His Excellency President John Dramani Mahama made an emphatic statement that he was going to turn Ghana into a construction site, some of us thought he was joking. But with the Big Push, Ghana has actually become a construction site. I am a beneficiary of the Big Push budget,” Mr Toobu said.

He said the employment created by the project could also help reduce crime by keeping young people engaged.

“From the security angle, I am looking at the number of people employed. The devil finds work for idle hands. Everybody is busy on the road – young men and women. I saw a young lady with a shovel, and I went to assist her.”

He added: “The fact that the road will be done very soon, it reduces the number of robberies on the road. Road infrastructure is actually an anchor to development.”

Wa East MP Dr Godfred Seidu Jasaw called for some of the gravel pits created during construction to be converted into dugouts to provide water for livestock during the dry season.

“Being an agricultural area, my emphasis is that some of these gravel pits being created should be converted to dugouts that can impound water for our animals to survive the long dry seasons. This will solve another problem – a low-hanging fruit dividend,” he said.

Dr Jasaw also commended the employment opportunities created by the project and urged the contractor to develop the skills of local young people so they could remain employable after the project is completed.

Caucus promises further inspection

Dr Sandaare said the inspection had confirmed that work on the N12 was progressing, but stressed that continued monitoring would be necessary to ensure the contractor maintained the pace.

“We can see and testify that the Big Push project is working. It is pushing! I was with the Minister some four months ago on this very road. Comparing then and now, the testimony is that work is ongoing actively,” he said.

He said the Caucus would continue to monitor the project on behalf of residents.

“We share the residents' concern. We are the people. We represent the people. We are not just praising them so that when we leave, they go back and sleep. Our people just want to see you on the road working – day and night. In the last quarter of 2026, we will come again to see whether, after our visit, you improved or you went back to rest,” he said.

Dr Sandaare said the ultimate objective was to significantly reduce travel times between the Upper West Region and Accra.

“Continue to do more good work so that by 2028, nobody travelling from Upper West Region to Accra will spend 24 hours on the road. No more, under the NDC government,” he said.

The N12 remains affected by potholes and other sections that slow traffic. However, the ongoing works, including night operations supported by REGSEC security arrangements, are expected to improve the road and reduce travel times when completed.