Haruna Iddrisu calls for ‘Big Push’ investment in health, education, sports and agriculture

Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu has urged the government's Big Push infrastructure program to expand beyond its current focus on road projects and allocate resources to health, education, sports, agriculture, and irrigation. While stressing that road infrastructure is vital for economic growth, Iddrisu believes that spreading these funds to other critical areas will bolster the country's overall development.

Speaking on Joy FM's Super Morning Show, Iddrisu emphasized the importance of showing tangible development outcomes to Ghanaians, particularly as the government approaches the 2027 and 2028 financial years and seeks re-election. "If you look at our debt service obligations, it's huge. And particularly for 2027 and 2028, going back to the electorate for the renewal of our mandate, we need to show proof on the ground," he stated.

The minister acknowledged progress made in implementing the Big Push program but argued for a more balanced allocation of resources. "So far, we're doing well with the execution of the Big Push. My view is that the Big Push implementation itself must be diversified," Iddrisu said.

He suggested that a portion of the program's funds should be directed towards health, sports, education, agriculture, and irrigation initiatives to broaden the scope of development efforts. "Diversified in a sense that some of those resources should go into health, should go into sports, should go into education, should go into agriculture and irrigation," he added.

Iddrisu maintained that while road infrastructure is crucial for economic growth, investing in other sectors is equally essential for achieving balanced national development. "But the road infrastructure will itself spur growth. But I'm for diversified spending of it," he concluded.