Keypoints:
- $10bn plan to be funded by oil and mineral revenue
- Projects target roads, health, education, agriculture
- Mahama assures PIAC of transparency and oversight
PRESIDENT John Dramani Mahama has assured Ghanaians that revenues from oil and mineral resources will be used transparently and efficiently to finance his government’s ambitious $10bn ‘Big Push’ infrastructure programme.
The President gave this assurance during a meeting with the Public Interest and Accountability Committee (PIAC) at the Jubilee House. The PIAC delegation, led by Chairman Mr Constantine K.M. Kudzedzi, had paid a courtesy call to congratulate Mahama on his recent re-election and to discuss the future direction of petroleum revenue management.
‘Big Push’ to transform infrastructure
Outlining the key details of his flagship plan, President Mahama said the ‘Big Push’ aims to inject $10bn over a five-year period, with an annual allocation of $2bn, into critical infrastructure across the country.
The priority areas include road networks, major bridges, healthcare and educational infrastructure. President Mahama also emphasised that a significant portion of the funding would be channelled into the agricultural sector to enhance productivity.
‘We are targeting long-term investments that can unlock productivity and growth, especially in rural areas,’ he said. In the agricultural space, the plan will support irrigation systems, farmer service centres and agribusiness development projects designed to improve food security and create jobs.
Petroleum revenues at the heart of funding
According to Mahama, the government will rely heavily on petroleum revenues and royalties from Ghana’s mineral resources to fund the plan.
‘Oil and mineral income must be invested in the kind of infrastructure that secures our country’s future. The “Big Push” is not just a vision—it is a framework to convert our natural wealth into real, lasting national assets,’ he noted.
PIAC’s role lauded in resource accountability
President Mahama used the opportunity to commend PIAC for its watchdog role in ensuring transparency in the use of Ghana’s petroleum revenue since commercial production began in 2011.
He praised the Committee’s diligence and independence in tracking spending and publishing timely reports, describing it as ‘a model worth emulating by other resource-rich countries.’
‘We appreciate PIAC’s consistent work in holding government accountable. Your reports guide our decisions and help us identify both the successes and gaps in our resource management systems,’ Mahama said.
A commitment to good governance
Mahama reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to sound public financial management and promised that all disbursements under the ‘Big Push’ would follow strict transparency and accountability protocols.
‘This government is committed to ensuring that every cedi is spent wisely. We will ensure that these investments bring measurable development outcomes, and PIAC’s oversight will be central to that process,’ he added.
The meeting ended with both parties agreeing on the need for continued collaboration to ensure Ghana’s oil wealth contributes sustainably to national development.
