Prez Mahama announces GH¢30.8 Billion allocation for 2026 “Big Push” Programme

President John Dramani Mahama has announced a record-breaking GH¢30.8 billion allocation for the government’s flagship “Big Push” infrastructure initiative in the 2026 budget, marking more than a twofold increase from the GH¢13.8 billion set aside for the programme in 2025.

Delivering the 2026 Budget Statement and Economic Policy before Parliament on Tuesday, President Mahama emphasized that the “Big Push” remains a cornerstone of his administration’s strategy to accelerate inclusive development, create sustainable jobs, and modernize Ghana’s infrastructure base.

According to the President, the increased allocation reflects the government’s commitment to tackling Ghana’s infrastructure deficit head-on while driving economic growth through industrial expansion, digital transformation, and enhanced social services.

“The GH¢30.8 billion investment under the Big Push for 2026 underscores our unwavering determination to transform Ghana’s infrastructure landscape. This is not merely about roads and bridges, it’s about building a modern economy that connects people, markets, and opportunities across all regions,” President Mahama stated.

The “Big Push,” first introduced during Mahama’s previous tenure, has been restructured under his current administration to focus on large-scale, high-impact projects across key sectors including roads and transport, energy, health, education, housing, water, and sanitation.

Finance Ministry data show that over GH¢13.8 billion allocated to the initiative in 2025 supported major projects such as the completion of the Accra Outer Ring Road, the Tamale Interchange expansion, and multiple district hospital projects under the Agenda 111 continuation programme. The 2026 plan, however, significantly expands its reach, targeting both new and ongoing projects across the 16 regions.

Key highlights of the 2026 “Big Push” include:

• Road and Transport Infrastructure: Completion of Phase II of the Accra–Kumasi Dualization Project and the Eastern Corridor Road Network; expansion of the Tema Port access roads; and rehabilitation of strategic feeder roads in agricultural zones.
• Energy and Green Transition: Upgrading of rural electrification projects, development of solar mini-grids in the Upper East and Savannah regions, and refurbishment of key transmission lines to improve power reliability.
• Healthcare Development: Construction of new regional hospitals in Bono East and North East Regions, completion of all outstanding Agenda 111 facilities, and modernization of key teaching hospitals.
• Education and Skills Training: Expansion of technical and vocational education institutions (TVETs), the establishment of new community senior high schools, and refurbishment of existing public universities’ infrastructure.
• Affordable Housing and Sanitation: Development of over 25,000 affordable housing units in partnership with private developers and the Ghana Real Estate Developers Association (GREDA); as well as major sanitation and drainage projects in Accra, Kumasi, and Takoradi.

The President also assured Parliament that the government will prioritize local content participation in all infrastructure contracts to maximize job creation for Ghanaian youth and local contractors.

“We are ensuring that at least 70 percent of contracts under the Big Push will go to Ghanaian firms or joint ventures with significant local participation. This is how we grow domestic capacity while driving national development,” Mahama added.

The Finance Minister, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, further elaborated that the government intends to finance the expanded programme through a combination of domestic revenue mobilization, concessional loans, and public-private partnerships (PPPs).

Economic analysts say the increased investment could serve as a major stimulus to Ghana’s post-debt restructuring recovery, though they caution that the government must ensure fiscal discipline and project accountability to avoid inefficiencies.

Meanwhile, several Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) have welcomed the news, describing the initiative as a “lifeline” for local development. The Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) also commended the government’s focus on infrastructure-led growth, emphasizing its potential to reduce logistics costs and enhance competitiveness for local manufacturers.

The 2026 “Big Push” is expected to directly generate over 500,000 jobs during its implementation phase, particularly in construction, logistics, engineering, and ancillary services.

President Mahama concluded his address by reaffirming his administration’s vision for Ghana: “We are building not just infrastructure, but the foundation for shared prosperity, national pride, and a modern state that works for every Ghanaian.”

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