A social commentator and Public Relations Officer of the BONABOTO Development Group, Stanley Abopam, has raised concerns about what he describes as the slow pace, or near absence, of major development projects in the Upper East Region, despite national assurances of massive infrastructure expansion.
Speaking on Daybreak Upper East on A1 Radio on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, Abopam questioned why the region appears to be missing out on the wave of construction projects promised by President John Dramani Mahama.
“The President himself made a very bold and categorical statement that the entire Republic of Ghana will be turned into a construction zone,” he said. “But for us in the Upper East Region, that promise has not translated into visible construction activity.”
Abopam cited the stalled Bolgatanga–Bawku–Pulmakom Road project as an example, explaining that although a contractor initially moved to the site shortly after the government assumed office, work has since stopped.
“The contractor came to site right after the government came into office, but today that contractor has left,” he said. “The stretch from Kulaa to the Timber Market has now become a death zone for road users.”
He acknowledged efforts by local authorities, including the Bolgatanga East District Assembly and the Upper East Regional Coordinating Council, but insisted that these interventions have not resolved the daily challenges commuters face.
“I have seen attempts by the Regional Minister and the Bolgatanga East District Chief Executive to deal with the problem,” he noted. “But those efforts have not been sufficient to address the daily health and safety risks people face just using that small section of the road.”
Abopam also expressed concern about the slow progress of other road projects in the region. While acknowledging work on the Navrongo–Sandema Road, he described the pace of construction as disappointing.
“Yes, the contractor is on site, but the snail-paced approach cannot pass for a nation that claims it is turning into a construction zone,” he argued.
He further mentioned the ongoing Chuchuliga–Chana–Nakong–Tumu Road project being undertaken by Mawums Limited, but said the road serves multiple regions and therefore cannot be considered a project dedicated solely to the Upper East Region.
Beyond roads, Abopam also criticised delays surrounding the proposed Bolgatanga Airport, noting that the project has remained at the promise stage.
“We have repeatedly been told that the President will come to cut the sod for the airport,” he said. “But the sod has not been cut, and even if it is cut, there is still a vast difference between sod-cutting and actual construction.”
According to him, residents of the Upper East Region are more interested in tangible development than ceremonial launches.
“We are not looking for sod-cutting ceremonies,” he stressed. “What we are looking for is real construction that will bring development and improve the lives of our people.”
A1 Radio | 101.1 Mhz | Seidu Mutawakil | Bolgatanga
