Concerns are mounting over the stalled reconstruction of the Wenchi-Bamboi-Sawla-Wa road project, a key transport corridor in northern Ghana, as a coalition of young people from the Upper West Region calls for urgent government intervention to restart and complete the project.
Members of the group, in a petition dated 4th May, 2026, are demanding the immediate commencement of full reconstruction works on the road, which they say, has been neglected for far too long despite its importance to regional development and cross-border trade.
A critical but collapsing economic corridor
The Wenchi-Bamboi-Sawla-Wa road is described by the youth group as a strategic national corridor linking the Bono East, Savannah, and Upper West Regions, with further connectivity to Burkina Faso and Mali. In their view, the road is not just a domestic route but a vital trade and logistics corridor that supports economic integration across West Africa.
However, the current state of the road paints a starkly different picture. According to the youth group, the corridor has deteriorated significantly, with extensive surface damage, deep potholes, and widespread dust making travel increasingly difficult and unsafe.
They noted that many sections of the road have deteriorated to the point where potholes have become large craters, damaging vehicles, increasing transport costs, and endangering the lives of commuters. What should be a smooth economic lifeline, they argue, has become a daily struggle for motorists, traders, and passengers.
Broken expectations after Mahama’s sod-cutting
The youth group referenced the official sod-cutting ceremony held in November 2025 under the government’s Big Push infrastructure initiative, during which President John Dramani Mahama announced the commencement of reconstruction works on the 195-kilometre stretch, with a projected completion timeline of two years.
At the time, the announcement generated optimism across affected communities, who expected rapid mobilisation of contractors and visible progress on the ground.
However, the youth argued that six months after the launch, there has been little to no significant work done on the road.
This lack of progress, they bemoan, has led to growing frustration and disappointment among residents who feel their expectations have not been met.
Concerns over contractor’s performance
A major concern raised in the petition is the performance of Maripoma Enterprise Limited, the company awarded the contract for the Sawla-Wa stretch of the project in November 2025, with a 36-month execution timeline.
The youth alleged that despite being given ample time and opportunity, the contractor has made minimal progress on the project.
They describe the situation as a clear sign of poor execution and lack of seriousness in handling such an important national infrastructure project.
They further claimed that the company’s leadership is managing multiple projects simultaneously, which they believe has contributed to the slow pace of work on the road project.
As a result, they argue, the project appears to have been deprioritized despite its importance to local communities.
The petitioners also expressed concern over what they describe as attempts to present a false impression of progress, particularly ahead of official inspections, which they reject as misleading and unacceptable.
Silence from key regional stakeholders
The youth have also raised concerns about what they describe as the silence of key stakeholders within the region.
According to the group, traditional authorities, members of the Upper West Parliamentary Caucus, and some local government officials have not done enough to push for accelerated action on the project.
They argued that stronger advocacy from these actors could have helped draw greater attention to the deteriorating state of the road and pressured implementing agencies to act more quickly.
Demand for immediate action
The youth group has outlined clear demands aimed at addressing the situation.
These include:
- Immediate and visible commencement of full reconstruction works on the Wenchi–Bole–Sawla-Wa Solar Road, with emphasis on substantial construction rather than minor or cosmetic works;
- Either full and immediate mobilisation of Maripoma Enterprise Limited or its removal from the project;
- Strict adherence to the original technical specifications and timelines announced by the government; and
- Enforcement of local content requirements to ensure meaningful participation of local stakeholders in the project.
Ultimatum to the government
The petition concluded with a firm stance, stating that the group’s advocacy will continue until the road is fully reconstructed and functional.
They have issued a two-week ultimatum to the Ministry of Roads and Highways to provide clear, visible, and verifiable progress on the project. According to the group, anything short of tangible action will not be accepted.
They further warned that failure to act within the given timeframe will lead to sustained public demonstrations aimed at drawing national attention to the issue.
The petition ended with a strong call for urgent and decisive intervention, warning that continued delays risk deepening public frustration and reinforcing the perception that the project is not being treated as a genuine development priority.
