Big Push projects have slowed down because of heavy rainfall — Mahama

President John Dramani Mahama has assured Ghanaians that work on the government’s flagship Big Push infrastructure projects will continue once the current heavy rains subside.

According to the President, the ongoing rainfall across the country has temporarily slowed construction activities on several project sites.

Speaking during an inspection of the Kafodzidzi road project as part of his working visit to the Central Region on Friday, June 26, President Mahama explained that the decision to reduce the pace of work is intended to ensure the safety of workers and protect the quality of ongoing construction.

President Mahama, however, emphasised that the slowdown is only temporary, adding that contractors will return to full-scale operations as soon as weather conditions improve.

“The Big Push projects around the country have slowed down because of the heavy rainfall we’ve been experiencing recently. I’m sure that as soon as the rainfall subsides, work will continue because money for the Big-Push has been allocated and it is lying there. As soon as the rainfall subsides, we promise that it will be processed and you will get your money quickly.

“The contractors should speed up so that they can present their certificates and be paid so that they can go back to work. We want to deliver as many of these roads as possible. We are scoping Phase 2 of the Big-Push to start next year.

“For those whose roads have not been tackled yet, they could come under Phase 2. We will continue to improve the road network because we know that the main means of transport for passengers and goods in Ghana is the roads,” he said.

President John Mahama also assured that adequate budgetary provisions will be made in the next national budget to preserve the country’s historical sites.

The assurance comes amid threats by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) to delist some Heritage Sites over inadequate buffer zones and encroachment.

The Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Abla Dzifa Gomashie, also appealed to traditional leaders and local communities to cooperate with government efforts aimed at protecting and preserving the nation’s historical and cultural heritage