From Forgotten Highway to Flagship Project: The Transformation of Wa-Tumu Road
The Wa-Han-Tumu-Navrongo highway has moved from being one of Ghana’s most neglected roads to becoming a flagship project under the government’s Big Push infrastructure programme.
Inspecting construction works on the highway during the first day of his two-day Resetting Ghana Tour of the Upper West Region, President John Dramani Mahama said the road’s rehabilitation marks the fulfilment of a long-held expectation for residents who endured decades of difficult travel between the Upper West and Upper East regions.
“This road is one of the most important roads under the Big Push programme because, when selecting the projects, we prioritised roads that link regional capitals,” he said.
President Mahama described the highway as a strategic corridor connecting Wa and Bolgatanga, saying its completion would improve mobility, trade and access to services across northern Ghana.
Reflecting on his childhood, he recalled travelling along the road to Tumu to visit his father’s friend, adding that many people believed the highway would never be reconstructed.
“Indeed, it has been in a very poor condition since our fathers’ time. People believed that this road would never, ever be done,” he said.
He expressed confidence that by the end of 2027 motorists would enjoy a comfortable journey between the two regional capitals, noting that work was progressing steadily.
The President commended the contractor, describing the company as one of Ghana’s oldest and most experienced road construction firms with a strong record of delivering quality projects in the Upper West Region.
He said government recognised the growing demand for improved roads across the country but explained that infrastructure development must be implemented in phases because of budget limitations.
According to him, the current phase of the Big Push focuses on strategic trunk roads, while future phases will extend development to feeder roads linking communities to the national highway network.
President Mahama also announced that the entire Wa–Navrongo stretch would receive an asphalt seal after the double surface dressing, a finishing layer expected to extend the road’s lifespan to about 20 years with minimal maintenance.
Richard Aniagyei, ISD
