President Mahama Pledges Accelerated Development for Ahafo as Government Intensifies Infrastructure and 24-Hour Economy Drive

President John Mahama has reaffirmed his administration's commitment to regional development and economic transformation during a high-level meeting with the Ahafo Regional House of Chiefs at Jubilee House. Led by Barima Twereku Ampem III, the chiefs petitioned the President for a degree-awarding institution, improved school facilities, and the completion of abandoned Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) projects. In response, President Mahama promised to deliver a tertiary institution and regional hospitals by the end of his term, emphasizing the importance of economic stability and job creation through agricultural modernization and traditional leadership in local governance.

The government's signature 24-Hour Economy market model is also seeing intensified activity, though with varying degrees of success across regions. Ashanti Regional Minister Frank Amoakohene recently clarified that a 12-unit classroom block in Mankranso would not be demolished but re-engineered to support the new market project, ensuring market women can keep their children close while working. Conversely, in the Bono East Region, Minister Francis Owusu Antwi has threatened to terminate the Sene West market contract if the contractor does not improve on the current 5% completion rate within a month. Meanwhile, the Community Focus Foundation Ghana (CFF-Ghana) has urged the government to move away from a "one-size-fits-all" approach, advocating for a data-driven strategy to ensure the policy meets the specific needs of diverse local markets.

Infrastructure development remains a central pillar of the administration's agenda through the "Big Push" programme. Roads and Highways Minister Governs Kwame Agbodza has directed contractors to actively engage and train young Ghanaian engineers and surveyors, particularly women, as part of their contractual obligations. In Ablekuma South, MP Alfred Okoe Vanderpuije praised the current Ministry for rehabilitating the Korle-Bu road—a critical route for ambulance services—which he claimed was neglected during the previous NPP administration. However, the government faces criticism regarding the sanitation crisis; while Bekwai MP Ralph Poku-Adusei called for a dedicated sanitation fund to address long-term systemic failures, Salaga South MP Zuwera Mohammed Ibrahimah defended the government’s progress, citing new facilities in Salaga and Krachi East as proof of improvement.

Public safety and environmental management have also come under the spotlight. The Ministry of the Interior has commissioned a committee to develop a National Fire Code to address rapid urbanization, and the new 2026 Road Traffic Regulations (L.I. 2519) have introduced stricter automated enforcement and penalties. In the security sector, 43 suspects were recently arraigned following the tragic killing of General Constable Redeemer Owusu in Gindabour, prompting a visit from the Inspector-General of Police. On the environmental front, the government is facing calls for reform after a Daily Graphic investigation revealed a 90% mortality rate for seedlings planted under the Green Ghana Project in the Upper East Region, highlighting significant challenges in maintenance and local consultation.

As the Mahama administration advances its policy goals, it continues to navigate complex community demands and industrial relations. From the Osudoku Youth Association’s petition to regulate rice imports to the Omanhene of Akyem Kotoku’s insistence that mining companies prioritize land reclamation for agriculture, there is a clear public demand for sustainable and inclusive growth. The success of the government's ambitious projects will ultimately depend on balancing rapid infrastructure delivery with the accountability and rigorous monitoring required to ensure long-term benefits for all Ghanaians.