The Tumu-Léo road corridor, which has existed for over 80 years, is set to be developed under Ghana's 'Big Push' initiative. However, the traditional authority in Tumu has issued a directive for residents and business operators to clear the land within two weeks to make way for construction. The road links Tumu in the Upper West Region to Léo across the border in Burkina Faso. This development aims to ease the movement of goods and people across the border.
The Tumu-Léo route has been folded into the government's 'Big Push' infrastructure programme, aimed at expanding and upgrading Ghana's trunk road network. The project is expected to strengthen trade and transport ties with neighbouring countries. For the Sissala enclave, opening this route is crucial as the area has historically had limited paved connectivity. The traditional authority's Secretary, Godfred Baveru Kanton, issued the directive during a stakeholder engagement with affected residents and business operators.
Kanton warned against political interference once the clearance exercise begins, cautioning the Member of Parliament and the district chief executive against intervening on behalf of anyone affected. He urged those with containers, kiosks, and other movable structures along the corridor to relocate promptly to avoid losses when demolition begins. The directive was reported by MyJoyOnline.
The Member of Parliament for Sissala East, Issah Mohammed Bataglia, publicly supported the clearance order. He told constituents that the long-term economic gains from opening the corridor outweighed the short-term difficulties individual residents may face. Bataglia argued that improved road access would lift local trade, strengthen highway security, and open up transport-related opportunities for young people in the constituency.
The road redevelopment is expected to affect nearby public institutions, including Kanton Senior High School. Headteacher Mahamudu Zakaria Savei described the school's internal roads as badly eroded and impassable by vehicle. Savei noted that the school has not benefited from a major infrastructure intervention since it was built in the 1960s.
The Tumu traditional authority commended the government for prioritising road infrastructure in the Sissala enclave and appealed for the contractor already working on the nearby Tumu-Sissily road, Mawums, to be retained for the Tumu-Léo project. This appeal was made citing the contractor's experience in the area.
Residents and business operators along the corridor have two weeks from the date of the engagement session to dismantle structures and vacate the marked road reservations. No specific start date for construction or a project completion timeline has been disclosed. The project aims to boost economic activity in the area and improve road access.
Key points
- The Tumu-Léo road corridor development is part of Ghana's 'Big Push' initiative to expand and upgrade the country's trunk road network.
- Residents and business operators have been given two weeks to clear the land and vacate the marked road reservations.
- The project is expected to ease the movement of goods and people across the border and boost economic activity in the area.
