Which Projects, Dr Bawumia? A Promise to Continue Everything Needs a List

The Black Star's front page on 10 November says Dr Mahamudu Bawumia "promises to continue every single developmental project from all previous govt."

It is a good promise to hear. But a promise to continue "every" project cannot be tested, costed or held to account. Ghanaians deserve names, locations and timelines.

After meeting Japanese development institutions, Dr Bawumia proposed long-term national masterplans for critical sectors, binding on successive governments whichever party is in power.

He said Japan builds consensus around a plan and commits to executing it over 30 years, and called this a major difference from Ghana. The principle is sound. The test is what it means for specific unfinished projects.

He has been specific before
Dr Bawumia knows how to name projects. In 2018, as Vice-President, he said government would re-initiate the Affordable Housing Projects begun in 2007 under President Kufuor, at Wa, Tamale, Koforidua and Asokore Mampong.

In 2020 he launched a website for tracking all public infrastructure projects. That is the standard he should apply now.

The projects he should address
Agenda 111 hospitals. This is the biggest case. It was launched under President Akufo-Addo, whom Dr Bawumia served. The government says about 90 hospitals remain unfinished and roughly US$1.7 billion is needed to complete them all.

It has decided to discontinue most of them and concentrate on 35 priority facilities. The Health Minister told a parliamentary committee that none of the hospitals is functional. Dr Bawumia should say which hospitals he would complete beyond the 35, and how he would fund them.

Oti Region. NPP regional executives say the Agenda 111 projects at Kpassa, Chinderi, Kadjebi and Jasikan, and roads such as Worawora-Jasikan, Borae-Chinderi, Chinderi-Zongo Macheri and the Eastern Corridor, have stalled or are moving slowly.

Projects across districts. A headline listed in an abandoned-projects archive reports that the Auditor-General flagged 123 abandoned government projects in 20 districts. The date is not shown in the source, so confirm it before relying on it. Which of these would he finish first?

Projects begun under NDC governments. If the pledge covers "all previous governments," he should name some of the inherited projects it covers, such as health facilities and school E-blocks.

President Mahama has announced plans to complete 30 abandoned E-block school projects.

Both parties make this pledge
Dr Bawumia is not alone.
In August 2024, Mr Mahama promised to complete all abandoned projects of the Akufo-Addo government. In office, his government has said it cannot finish everything.

A health adviser said the entire Health Ministry budget could not complete all Agenda 111 projects, arguing that work stalled because the previous administration did not provide enough money. That is the real question for any candidate: what do you finish, in what order, and with what money?

What a specific pledge would look like
A published list of unfinished projects he would complete, by region, with cost and percentage complete.

Priority criteria, for example health facilities near completion first.

A public tracker, like the one he launched in 2020, updated regularly.

A statement on whether the masterplan approach would be backed by law.

Conclusion
Continuity is a virtue, and Ghanaians have paid dearly for abandoned structures. But "every single project" is a slogan, not a plan. If Dr Bawumia wants voters to believe it, he should publish his list.

Mustapha Bature Sallama
Medical/ Science Communicator,
Private Investigator, Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Analysis,

International Conflict Management and Peacebuilding. (USIP)

[email protected]
+233555275880

References
Graphic Online, "Bawumia calls for national masterplans to bind successive governments and ensure development continuity," 8 Nov 2026. https://www.graphic.com.gh/news/politics/bawumia-calls-for-national-masterplans-to-bind-successive-governments-and-ensure-development-continuity.html

ModernGhana, "Bawumia proposes binding national masterplans to ensure development continuity." https://www.modernghana.com/news/1542872/bawumia-proposes-binding-national-masterplans-to.amp

Ghana Business News, "Government will not abandon previous governments' projects – Bawumia" (2018). https://www.ghanabusinessnews.com/?p=182514

GhanaWeb, "We've completed some E-blocks, 16 Mahama hospitals – Bawumia," 19 Aug 2020. https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/health/We-ve-completed-some-E-blocks-16-Mahama-hospitals-Bawumia-1037242

NewsGhana, "Mahama orders funding for stalled Agenda 111 hospitals." https://www.newsghana.com.gh/mahama-orders-funding-for-stalled-agenda-111-hospitals/

Citinewsroom, "GH¢20bn needed to complete Agenda 111 projects – Akandoh," 9 Jul 2026. https://www.citinewsroom.com/2026/07/gh%c2%a220bn-needed-to-complete-agenda-111-projects-akandoh/

MyJoyOnline, "No Agenda 111 hospital is operational despite GH¢4.8bn spent – Health Minister." https://www.myjoyonline.com/no-agenda-111-hospital-is-operational-despite-gh%C2%A24-8bn-spent-health-minister/

Adomonline, "Ghana's entire budget cannot complete Agenda 111 projects – Titus Beyuo." https://www.adomonline.com/ghanas-entire-budget-cannot-complete-agenda-111-projects-titus-beyuo/

Ghana News Agency, "Akufo-Addo projects in Oti Region gathering dust – NPP Regional Executives," Aug 2026. https://gna.org.gh/2026/08/akufo-addo-projects-in-oti-region-gathering-dust-npp-regional-executives/

MyJoyOnline, abandoned projects archive (123 projects flagged by the Auditor-General; Mahama E-blocks pledge). https://www.myjoyonline.com/tag/abandoned-projects

GhanaWeb, "I'll complete all abandoned projects by Akufo-Addo – Mahama reiterates," 4 Aug 2024. https://mobile.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/politics/I-ll-complete-all-abandoned-projects-by-Akufo-Addo-Mahama-reiterates-1943909

The Black Star Newspaper, front page, Vol. 12 No. 3190, 10 Nov 2026 (your uploaded page).