Motorists, pedestrians demand urgent work on dusty Bolgatanga-Bawku road

Motorists and pedestrians using the Bolgatanga-Bawku-Polimakom Road in the Upper East Region are urging the government to take immediate action to address the deteriorating condition of a 200-metre stretch between the Bolgatanga-Kulaa Bridge and the Timber Market.

The stretch has become a major safety concern due to its dusty surface and poor road condition, with commuters struggling to see clearly whenever heavy-duty vehicles pass.

Motorists, particularly motorcyclists, say the dust severely reduces visibility and increases the risk of collisions, while pedestrians fear being knocked down as they attempt to navigate the hazardous section.

A visit to the road by the Daily Graphic last Wednesday revealed that the situation had been worsened by the absence of the contractor undertaking the road project, raising concerns about when construction would resume.

Although some sections of the 116.1-kilometre Bolgatanga-Bawku-Polimakom Road project have been completed, work remains outstanding on several stretches, including the Kulaa Bridge area in Bolgatanga and the Tilli Bridge over the Red Volta, which connects the Nabdam and Bawku West districts.

The Kulaa Bridge is about 30 per cent complete, while the Tilli Bridge is approximately 80 per cent complete.

The project was awarded to Brazilian construction company Queiroz Galvão in 2016 but has experienced prolonged delays because of financing difficulties.

During an inspection in August 2026, President John Dramani Mahama attributed the delays to financing challenges following Ghana's economic crisis and debt defaults. He said the government had terminated the loan arrangement and was financing the project with domestic resources, assuring that the contractor would be paid on time.

In September 2026, the Minister for Roads and Highways, Governs Kwame Agbodza, disclosed that 67 per cent of the overall project had been completed. He reaffirmed the government's commitment to completing Lot Two by the end of 2027.

Mr Agbodza also revealed that the government owed QG Construction Limited about €28 million and was working to settle the outstanding payments to facilitate the contractor's return to the site.

However, road users say they cannot endure the dangerous conditions on the stretch until the entire project is completed. They are therefore calling for temporary interventions to control the dust and improve safety.

Motorists recount dangers
A motorist, Amadu Abdulai, said the poor condition of the road had contributed to preventable accidents and appealed to the government to intervene before more lives were lost.

“The road here is very bad. When a trailer passes, and you are on a motorbike, your visibility is severely impaired, leaving you wobbling on the road, and you can imagine the possibilities. This section of the road is terribly bad and has left many people disabled through accidents that could have been avoided if the road had been fixed,” he said.

Mr Abdulai also questioned the apparent halt in construction after President Mahama's visit to the region in August 2026.

He said heavy equipment had been moved to the site ahead of the President's visit, creating the impression that work was about to resume, but meaningful construction activities did not follow.

“When it was announced that the President was coming to the region, rollers, excavators and tipper trucks were moved to the site, but no serious work was ongoing, except for individuals roaming there every day in their uniforms, creating the impression that construction had resumed,” he stated.

He added: “When the President left, they started moving the equipment out one after the other, and I want to believe the equipment was rented to fool the people. As we speak, there is not a single piece of equipment on the site. What has changed?”

Another motorist, Philimon Abaabagre, described the situation as a growing threat to the lives of people who use the road daily and expressed disappointment that the problem had persisted despite government commitments to improve road infrastructure.

“Even if we want to be political about it, this region has 15 Members of Parliament, all for the ruling government, so what is our crime?” he asked.

Mr Abaabagre said accidents were frequent on the stretch because motorcyclists often struggled to see clearly when heavy vehicles passed, leaving them exposed to collisions.

“We cannot continue to suffer like this. Please, we are appealing to the government to get the contractor back on site,” he said.

Pedestrians also affected
Pedestrians have also raised concerns about the risks posed by the stretch, particularly when heavy vehicles stir up thick clouds of dust.

A resident, Oldman Ayinga, who said he used the road daily, described it as dangerous for people travelling on foot.

“If you are walking here and you are not careful, a motor will run into you. Although some riders are reckless, the main issue has to do with the road. Some motorcyclists tend to speed through the area in an attempt to escape the dust and negotiate the dangerous stretch quickly, sometimes ending up causing accidents,” he said.

Mr Ayinga said the dust also affected pedestrians' comfort and appearance, especially those travelling for job interviews or other important engagements.

“If you are going for an interview and a car happens to pass by you here, your white clothes will turn red, and you may have to go back,” he said.

Zaare chief calls for temporary repairs

The Chief of Zaare, Naba Paul Nsoh Agoo, has joined calls for urgent intervention, proposing temporary repairs to ease the difficulties faced by road users while efforts continue to secure the resumption of the main construction works.

Speaking during the Bolgatanga Municipal Assembly's Accounting to the People series, he said immediate measures were necessary to reduce the dust and prevent further accidents.

“It is sad that the contractor is not on site. When you pass there, you cannot imagine the dust, which is causing accidents. I want to propose that the Bolgatanga Municipal and Bolgatanga East assemblies explore ways to undertake temporary repairs to make the stretch more suitable for motorists and pedestrians,” he appealed.

Regional minister responds
The Upper East Regional Minister, Donatus Akamugri Atanga, acknowledged the concerns raised by motorists, pedestrians and the chief but said the existing contractual arrangements made it difficult to engage another contractor to carry out temporary repairs without first reaching an agreement with the current contractor.

He explained that because the road was already under contract, any intervention by another party would have to be carefully handled to avoid complications with the existing arrangements.

Mr Atanga, however, assured residents that the government remained committed to completing the road and pledged to relay their concerns to the Minister for Roads and Highways.