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President John Dramani Mahama’s vow to roll out ambitious projects to position Ghana as a beacon to Africa and to give the citizenry a breather, thus; becoming Ghana’s first President, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah incarnate, is gradually but steadily beginning to manifest, The aL-hAJJ can today report.

Following improvement in traffic management, the construction and reshaping of major roads in towns, urban centers and cities, particularly the nation’s capital city, Accra, the nerve-racking traffic gridlock which use to be a nuisance to many road users is beginning to ease.

The reopening of the Akasanoma-Nsawam and the Baptist Church-Nsamam routes of the ongoing construction of the Kwame Nkrumah interchange, the reopening of the Giffard-La Junction and La-Nungua beach roads, and asphalting of some major roads in Accra, has hugely contributed to improving the hitherto terrific traffic situation in the nation’s capital.

Some residents in the capital region have confirmed to The aL-hAJJ how the President’s initiative to reshape some of the city’s roads, and the introduction of improved traffic management systems such as the construction of more overpasses and police visibility, have contributed to lessening traffic congestions in the nation’s capital, especially during rush hours.

This development has resulted in a situation where commuters, particularly workers and traders, do not have to spend longer hours in traffic to get to their work places, homes and other terminuses.

Joyous of how the President’s initiatives in the road sector have impacted his life, a resident of East Legon, in an interaction with The aL-hAJJ, revealed, "I use to leave my house at 6am in the past in order to avoid the horrendous traffic... If you leave home after 6:30am, you are likely to spend 2 or more hours getting to your destination, let’s say the ministries."

Another resident of Haatso, also in the capital city, was also full of praises for the police, especially the Visibility and Patrol Unit, for the yeoman’s job they are doing in the management of traffic in the nation's capital, adding that “the opening of the two routes of the circle interchange and the reopening of other roads will lessen the job of the police.”

Since his inauguration as the country's leader on January 7, 2013, President John Mahama has been demonstrating how a northern-born communicator-turned-President can live to his pledge; supervising the delivering of unprecedented infrastructural developments across the country comparable only to the Nkrumah era wave of transformation.

Driving through some major streets of Accra over the past few weeks revealed how the roads are wearing a not too familiar look; as asphalting of these selected roads, construction of kerbs, U-drains and pavements covered with concrete slabs; with its sides adorned with ornamental plants, are vigorously ongoing at various intersections and T-junctions.

The works at the various intersections in the city of Accra, apart from protecting the roads by increasing their life span, checking of erosion and providing safe walkways for pedestrians, is also; to beautify the city and principally, ease traffic congestion, The aL-hAJJ has gathered.

Another ambitious project aimed at impacting the lives of citizens commuting to and from the western coastal regions and Accra is the current construction works on the $160million interchange at Kasoa in the Central region.

The John Mahama government is reported to have earmarked several roads projects across the country to either improve accessibility to certain parts of the country or ease traffic in order to make movement of goods and people comfortable.

Aside the road sector, the Mahama administration has made huge investments in other sectors of the economy. In a recent interview with Uniiq Fm, President Mahama described his government’s investment in the health sector as unprecedented.

He said “this period has seen some of the heaviest investment in health infrastructure. We have spent in excess of $1 billion dollars on health infrastructure alone". Regional hospitals, district hospitals…they are too numerous to mention.”

Amongst the projects being undertaken, he said; include the Ridge Hospital, Police Hospital and the construction of a new teaching hospital at the University of Ghana, Legon. Also, the country’s largest hospital, Korle Bu and the Tamale teaching Hospitals, the president added, are being reequipped.

The Wa Hospital and the new Military Hospital in Kumasi are also being constructed whiles government has 10secured funding for the construction of five polyclinics in the BrongAhafo region, another five in the Western Region, Accra and 10 more in the Central region.
He added that “the investment is phenomenal,” “the Tepa Hospital is ongoing, Konongo Hospital and Nsawkaw hospital…I mean there are just so many of them that are taking place”.

“We are building also hundreds of CHIPS compounds in rural areas that are hard to reach and we are staffing them with professionals that can help reduce maternal mortality and treat small ailments, there’s so much that is going,” he noted.

He also indicated that 31 new nurses and midwifery training schools to train health professionals are being built.

In the last six and a half years under the Mills/Mahama government, the country has witnessed unparalleled construction of major landmark projects such as the several high rise buildings dotting the nation's capital, world class shopping malls, modern Flyovers, up-to the-minute pump stations, contemporary edifices etc.

Principal among projects being rolled out or tackled by the Mahama government aside the Accra beautification and improvement projects, is the government’s much expected promise to end the unbearable and frustrating power rationing which is crippling businesses and has brought untold hardship to many households.

Despite its torrid tenure in office, the Mahama administration has managed to fast track the construction and/or, completion of many projects among them; the Cape Coast stadium, the Kotokoraba market, Kommenda sugar factory, water processing plant in the Eastern region, Teshie desalination project , the Kumasi shoe factory and the Atuabo Gas Processing Plant in the Western region.

Others include the completion or construction of numerous schools buildings including, the new 200 community day Senior High Schools, various road projects nationwide, the Tamale International airport, the Youth Entrepreneurship Fund, the Awoshie -Pokuase road, the 600 bed Legon hospital, Tamale Teaching hospital, Ridge and Police hospital expansions.

The rest include a Helipad for the military hospital, acquisition of two new jets for the military, expansion works at BrongAhafo and Volta universities and the proposed university for the Eastern region, Cars for the various regional house of chiefs, equipping the national fire service with over 120 fire tenders, 4000 houses for civil servants nation-wide, Takoradi harbor expansion, Mampong water supply and Rural electrification across the country, commissioning of a €38m fibre optic infrastructure, among other impressive projects.

The almost completed Kwame Nkrumah interchange, the 37-La beach road project, Spintex road bypass, expansion of Kotoka international airport, the airport city project, the completed Kpong water expansion project are all adding to the change in the face of Accra under President John Mahama.