Issah Abdul-Latif
The Coalition of Concerned Citizens of the Upper West Region has described the recent courtesy call by the Upper West Regional House of Chiefs on President John Dramani Mahama as a missed opportunity to advocate for the region’s critical development needs.
In a press statement released on July 13, 2026, the coalition said it had expected the House of Chiefs to use the meeting to place the rehabilitation of the Sawla–Tuna–Wa Road at the centre of discussions with the President.
The group noted that although the President of the Upper West Regional House of Chiefs, Kuoro Issaka Zengbe Kazie Tenjie II, referenced the deplorable condition of the road, the issue did not receive the level of emphasis its strategic importance warranted.
According to the coalition, the meeting focused largely on requests relating to the welfare of chiefs and queen mothers, while broader development concerns affecting residents across the region received comparatively little attention.
They argued that the chiefs would have made a better advocacy in respect of the road as the most pressing developmental need had they consulted other stakeholders in the region before embarking on the visit to the presidency.
The coalition stressed that the rehabilitation of the Sawla–Tuna–Wa Road “remains one of the most urgent development priorities” in the region and called on the government to include the project under its Big Push Infrastructure Programme.
It also urged the government to provide the necessary mobilisation funds to MESSRS MARIPOMA Limited to begin rehabilitation works without further delay.
While expressing disappointment over the outcome of the meeting, the coalition welcomed President Mahama’s announcement that the government would commence the procurement process for the construction of an airport in Wa. It described the proposed airport as an important long-term investment capable of boosting trade, transportation and economic growth in the region.
However, the group maintained that restoring the Sawla–Tuna–Wa stretch of the Techiman–Wa Road should take precedence because of its immediate impact on the livelihoods of commuters, traders, farmers, students and healthcare workers who continue to endure difficult travelling conditions.
The coalition concluded by appealing to President Mahama to treat the rehabilitation of the road as an urgent national priority, expressing optimism that meaningful action would be taken before the end of his tenure to address a challenge that has hindered the region’s development for many years.
