The contractor working on the Bolgatanga-Bawku-Pulmakon road project, Quiróz Galvao, has withdrawn all machinery from the Bolgatanga-Kulaa bridge stretch as of the second week of October 2025.
This action follows the government’s failure to pay outstanding arrears.Investigations reveal that the contractor returned to the site in August 2025 using its own resources, hoping to continue the project after initially leaving in February 2023.
They had anticipated that the government would settle the arrears, but when payment did not materialize, the contractor was compelled to vacate the site, leaving commuters stranded on a road riddled with potholes and puddles, as well as clouds of dust.
The Bolgatanga-Bawku-Pulmakon road project, located in the northern corridor of Ghana, aims to enhance road safety, facilitate trade, and stimulate economic and social development.
It also seeks to better integrate the Upper East and Northern regions of Ghana, benefiting neighboring countries as well.The road is approximately 109 km long, stretching from Bolgatanga through Bawku to Pulmakon. The project includes the rehabilitation of the existing road, the construction of an additional bypass at Bawku, and the building of three new bridges parallel to existing ones near Bolgatanga, Tilli, and Zebilla.Commuters have expressed their concerns about the deteriorating road conditions.
Sandra Adongo, a nurse at the Tongo District Hospital in the Talensi District, shared her experience: “Whenever it rains, I have to take the Winkogo-Tongo road due to the slippery conditions of the Bolgatanga-Kulaa stretch, which is often filled with puddles and very dusty when dry. This poses dangers for all asthmatic patients who frequently use the road.” She appealed to the government to pay the contractor’s arrears so that work can resume and alleviate the burden on the region’s residents.
Mr. Nsobila Aduko lamented the road’s poor condition, stating, “The Bolgatanga-Bawku-Pulmakon road is very busy but fraught with potholes and limited safety. When it rains, vehicles splash water from the potholes, making it unsafe for commuters. We can no longer wear white clothing, and we arrive at our destinations covered in dust.”He urged the government to empathize with the plight of Upper East region residents and to pay the contractor so work can continue, facilitating better connectivity with neighboring countries
.Anafo Sandra, a health professional and nursing mother, described her daily struggle navigating the bumpy, dusty roads with her crying baby. “This road is vital for the region, but the current state of the unfinished portions is terrible. When I travel with my baby, I have to cover him with a cloth to shield him from the heat and dust.
The baby often cries due to the discomfort, and sometimes I have no choice but to expose him to the elements, which is distressing for both of us.”
Source:mywordfmonline.com/Gaspard Ayuureneeya Adongo.