{"id":78396,"date":"2025-07-22T08:41:08","date_gmt":"2025-07-22T08:41:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/?p=78396"},"modified":"2025-07-22T08:41:08","modified_gmt":"2025-07-22T08:41:08","slug":"mahama-thanks-eastern-region-unveils-bold-infrastructure-plan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/?p=78396","title":{"rendered":"Mahama thanks Eastern Region, unveils bold infrastructure plan"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n \t<\/i> Read Time:<\/span>3 Minute, 24 Second <\/div>\n\n <\/div>
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President John Mahama, on Sunday, July 20, praised residents of the Eastern Region for helping to maintain peace during the 2024 elections, while unveiling an ambitious infrastructure plan designed to boost roads, healthcare, water, and education across the region.<\/p>\n

Speaking at Jackson Park in Koforidua alongside top officials of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), including National Chairman Johnson Asiedu Nketia and General Secretary<\/p>\n

Fiifi Fiavi Kwetey, Mr. Mahama credited the region\u2019s \u201cprayers and solidarity\u201d with helping to avert anticipated unrest during the polls.<\/p>\n

\u201cBy the grace of God, victory came to the side of the National Democratic Congress,\u201d Mahama said, \u201cand we are here to say thank you.\u201d<\/p>\n

The president announced a series of projects under a programme dubbed the \u201cBig Push\u201d aimed at addressing Ghana\u2019s estimated $1.5 billion annual infrastructure deficit.<\/p>\n

He said funds sourced from oil and gas revenues, along with export proceeds, would fuel the initiative.<\/p>\n

Among planned projects for the Eastern Region are the dualization of the Koforidua\u2013Bunso\u2013Apedwa stretch, the completion of the Osino\u2013Anyinam bypass, and a modern bridge over the Afram River.<\/p>\n

President Mahama also said the Eastern Regional water supply system would be extended to reach about one million residents.<\/p>\n

\u201cEastern Region plays a pivotal role in Ghana\u2019s economy,\u201d Mahama noted. \u201cWe are committed to ensuring it receives its fair share of the national cake.\u201d<\/p>\n

In the education sector, Mr. Mahama cited the reimbursement of first-year academic fees and restoration of monthly allowances to nursing and teaching students, following the payment of six months\u2019 arrears.<\/p>\n

The president also said an audit into road contracts had uncovered duplicate payments, and affirmed that affected contractors would face legal consequences, while others would be cleared to resume work.<\/p>\n

He praised the contributions of the people of the Eastern Region serving in his government, including Chief of Staff Mr. Julius Debrah, Defence Minister, Mr. Omane Boamah; Regional minister, Mrs. Rita Akosua Awatey; and Minister of Youth Development and Empowerment, Mr. George Opare Addo, among a tall list.<\/p>\n

Mr. Mahama also reiterated his pledge to complete the Eastern Regional Hospital project started by the previous administration.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe began the push for eastern regional development under Prof John Evans Atta Mills,\u201d Mahama said. \u201cNow we must finish it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Welcoming the president\u2019s visit, Nene Sakite II, Konor of the Manya Krobo Traditional Area and President of the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs, said the visit marked a \u201csignificant milestone\u201d for the region\u2019s leadership.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are deeply honoured by your presence,\u201d he said. \u201cFollowing your landslide victory, we sent formal congratulations and requested a courtesy visit to the Jubilee House. While that audience remains pending, we are grateful you visited us first.\u201d<\/p>\n

He assured the president of the chiefs\u2019 continued collaboration on national development but flagged several issues, including deteriorating infrastructure, particularly in Krobo land.<\/p>\n

\u201cGood is not good enough where better is possible,\u201d the Chief remarked. \u201cYour leadership must now build on this momentum to bring sustainable development, hope and prosperity to all Ghanaians.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nene Sakite also warned of environmental degradation caused by illegal mining and invoked a symbolic \u201c11th commandment\u201d:<\/p>\n

\u201cThou shalt not destroy the environment.\u201d<\/p>\n

He pledged the House of Chiefs\u2019 support in environmental protection and urged the government to sustain the fight against galamsey.<\/p>\n

Concerns were also raised about the recent merger of the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs with Local Government, with the chief calling for transparency and assurance that their strategic role would not be diminished.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis institution has survived colonialism, independence and constitutional evolution,\u201d he said. \u201cIt remains a critical pillar of national identity, unity and governance.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nene Sakite revisited Mahama\u2019s earlier donation to rehabilitate the Regional House of Chiefs\u2019 office, noting work stalled again after initial progress by Ghana National Petroleum Corporation, and called for renewed commitment to complete the project.<\/p>\n

He called for job creation, transparency, and restoration of public integrity.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou understand the challenges and have the wisdom to navigate them,\u201d Nene Sakite said. \u201cWe assure you of our unwavering commitment to peace, stability, unity and shared values under your leadership.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"MahamaPresident John Dramani Mahama, on Sunday, July 20, praised residents of the Eastern Region for helping to maintain peace during the 2024 elections, while unveiling an ambitious infrastructure plan designed to boost roads, healthcare, water, and education across the region.<\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rop_custom_images_group":[],"rop_custom_messages_group":[],"rop_publish_now":"initial","rop_publish_now_accounts":{"facebook_2277560469115098_106292521332774":"","twitter_aToxNzczMzI3Njk4OTg4ODUxMjAxOw==_1773327698988851200":""},"rop_publish_now_history":[],"rop_publish_now_status":"pending","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-78396","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-blog"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/78396","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=78396"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/78396\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=78396"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=78396"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=78396"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}