President John Dramani Mahama has announced a GH¢1 billion Bawku Restoration Fund to accelerate development in the six districts that constitute the Bawku area, as relative calm returns to the conflict-affected region.
The President made the announcement on Tuesday at the Jubilee House during a courtesy call by the Upper East Regional House of Chiefs.
He indicated that the fund, to be disbursed over three years, will be invested in roads, health facilities, educational facilities, irrigation dams, and income-generating projects.
“Now that relative calm is coming to Bawku, I announced a one billion Ghana cedi fund. And we call it the Bawku Restoration Fund. And so that fund is supposed to speed up development in the six districts that constitute the Bawku area,” President Mahama stated.
The President revealed that he has appointed the Minister of Finance as chairman of the committee overseeing the fund to ensure quick disbursement of resources. The Majority Leader in Parliament, who represents a constituency in the area, will also serve on the committee.
“I intentionally made the Minister of Finance the chairman of the committee. Because he’s the one who has to provide the money. If he is the chairman, the money will come quickly,” the President explained.
The committee, which is expected to be inaugurated soon, will identify projects and their locations. Funds will be allocated through procurement processes, and contracts will be awarded for implementation across the Bawku districts.
President Mahama acknowledged the role played by Otumfuo Osei Tutu II in mediating the Bawku conflict, which claimed an estimated 119 lives during the mediation period.
He explained that his predecessor, former President Nana Akufo-Addo, had invited the Asantehene to mediate, and he felt duty-bound to allow the process to continue.
The President stressed his commitment to upholding the law regarding the chieftaincy matter, stating that the gazette recognizes Naba Abugrago Azoka II as the lawful Bawku Naba.
“I swore an oath to uphold the constitution and the laws of the Republic of Ghana. And so I cannot be sentimental in terms of implementing the law,” he said.
Beyond Bawku, President Mahama announced a plan to connect the Upper East and Upper West regions with a first-class road from Bolgatanga through Navrongo and Tumu to Wa.
The project forms part of the government’s GH¢10 billion Big Push initiative, which will invest heavily in infrastructure over five years.
“We want to connect the Upper East to the Upper West through Tumu. From Bolga through Navrongo and through Tumu all the way to Wa with a first class road,” the President said, adding that the project is being broken into lots and assigned to different contractors to speed up implementation.
The President also disclosed that construction of the Bolgatanga Airport will commence soon, following a recent site inspection that confirmed its suitability. The airport will be funded through the newly approved airport infrastructure development levy.
“Very soon, I will come and we will invite all of you and we will go to the site and cut the sod for the start of the construction of the airport,” he announced.
Other major projects outlined for the Upper East region include the Pwalugu Multi-Purpose Dam, estimated to cost nearly $1 billion.
The President explained that the project will be executed in two phases, with the first phase focusing on hydropower generation of 60-70 megawatts, complemented by a solar component producing an additional 30-40 megawatts.
The second phase will develop irrigation infrastructure to bring at least 10,000 hectares of land under irrigation and provide flood control for communities downstream of the Bagre Dam.
President Mahama also announced plans to reactivate the Pwalugu tomato factory and introduce a new tomato variety with higher flesh content suitable for processing. The Ministry of Agriculture is already working with farmers under the Feed Ghana Program to distribute the new variety.
Addressing the chiefs, the President commended them for their role in maintaining peace in their traditional areas and called on the National and Regional Houses of Chiefs to address succession disputes that often lead to violent conflicts.
He warned against the practice of kingmakers accepting bribes to install illegitimate successors, noting that such actions frequently result in prolonged conflicts.
“Sometimes because of wealth and, let me just put it bluntly, bribery and corruption, kingmakers go and take money. And then the person who is not the legitimate successor, they force to put the person there and it naturally results into conflict,” President Mahama stated.
Richard Aniagyei, ISD
