President John Dramani Mahama has promised to improve major roads and extend electricity to areas in the Sawla-Tuna-Kalba District that lack power. Traditional leaders in the Savannah Region requested these improvements during his recent visit. Contracts for rural electrification have already been signed. Contractors are expected to begin work on these projects within the next month, aiming to bring electricity access in Savannah up to the national average. This initiative addresses a long-standing need for better power supply in the region.
The government plans to launch Phase Two of its "Big Push" infrastructure programme in November. This phase will specifically include road improvements in the Sawla-Tuna-Kalba District. Roads connecting Sawla, Kong, and Kalba are prioritised. President Mahama assured local leaders that these roads are part of the next year's budget. Work on these roads will commence early next year. This signals a significant investment in the region's transport network.
Beyond roads and electricity, a new Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Centre of Excellence will be established. The World Bank is supporting this initiative at Kulmasa in the Sawla-Tuna-Kalba District. The centre will focus on skills like construction, agricultural mechanisation, auto mechanics, and ICT. This aims to equip young people with practical skills for employment. It is a key strategy to combat youth unemployment in the Savannah Region.
The government also plans to eliminate the double-track system in senior high schools by 2027. This ambitious goal requires an investment of $300 million. This funding will be used to upgrade 60 schools across the country. Thirty Category C schools will become Category B. Thirty Category B schools will be promoted to Category A. These upgrades will include new dormitories, laboratories, and lecture halls. The aim is to increase student capacity and improve the learning environment.
ITTE Global is working with the government to train 7,000 to 8,000 teachers. This training covers basic and junior high school teachers. They will learn STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) subjects. They will also learn play-based teaching methods. This initiative seeks to foster curiosity and problem-solving skills from an early age. It is a crucial step in improving foundational education.
Local chiefs, including the chief of Sawla and the chief of Kong, had appealed for more development projects. They specifically requested extended rural electrification. They also asked for a dual carriageway on the Sawla township road and the Tuna-Kalba road. Security improvements, like a fence wall for Saint Anthony Minor Seminary Senior High School, were also requested. The chief of Kong further appealed for a road from Tuna to Kong. Better mobile network coverage and a new senior high school and health facility in Kong were also mentioned. Chiefs expressed confidence in the area's cooperation for development.