On March 22, 2025, President John Dramani Mahama visited the Northern Region of Ghana as part of his thank-you tour, pledging to prioritize the completion of abandoned hospitals and water projects to improve living standards in the area. Speaking at the Gbewaa Palace during a courtesy call to the Overlord of Dagbon, Yaa Naa Abukari II, Mahama emphasized his administration’s commitment to enhancing healthcare and water access, critical issues for the region’s development.
Mahama specifically highlighted the Yendi and Tamale hospitals, promising their completion to ensure residents have access to quality medical care. “The people of the Northern Region deserve access to quality healthcare,” he stated, underscoring that finishing these stalled health facilities would be a top priority. He also addressed the pressing need for clean water, assuring the community that abandoned water initiatives, including the Tamale Water Expansion and Yendi Water projects, would be revived and completed. “Water is life, and we cannot have a thriving region without reliable access to clean water,” he remarked, linking water security to the region’s overall prosperity.
The President’s assurances come amid criticisms that previous administrations neglected projects initiated during his earlier tenure, which ended in 2017. He reaffirmed his dedication to fulfilling campaign promises, stating, “Every unfinished project will be completed.” Beyond healthcare and water, Mahama outlined plans for irrigation development, earmarking 10,000 hectares of land to boost food production and support local farmers, a move aimed at enhancing food security in the Northern Region.
This pledge resonates with Mahama’s broader vision of equitable development across Ghana. His administration aims to address longstanding infrastructure gaps, particularly in underserved areas like the Northern Region. The visit also included discussions with local leaders, who raised additional concerns, such as the renaming of Tamale International Airport to Gbewaa International Airport and the completion of its third phase. Mahama’s commitments signal a focused effort to tackle these abandoned projects, aiming to deliver tangible improvements to the region’s healthcare, water supply, and agricultural potential by the end of his term.