? Projects | Talensi District Assembly
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Upper East Region, Ghana • Digital Address: UT-0038-5285

Projects & Development Stories

Impacts across roads, rural electrification, health, education, water & sanitation, mining, and the tomato factory.

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Roads Electrification Health Education Water & Sanitation Mining Tomato & Agriculture
Tongo–Yameriga–Sheaga–Duusi–Pelungu road corridor Roads

Opening the Hinterlands: Tongo–Sheaga–Duusi Bitumen Road

The road network of Talensi has long been described as the district's single-biggest infrastructure challenge — with only one tarred road spanning from Winkogo junction to Tongo central, and feeder roads reaching as far as the 14km Sheaga-Buing stretch.

Under the current administration, the DCE Hon. John Millim has embarked on field inspections of ongoing and proposed road infrastructure projects across the district, reaffirming government's commitment to improving connectivity and accelerating local development.

Vision for a Connected Talensi

  • Tongo – Sheaga – Duusi: The Assembly is taking steps to tar this vital corridor.
  • Duusi – Pelungu – Kongo Junction: Liaising with the Nabdam DCE to continue the road through Pelungu to meet the Bolgatanga–Bawku highway.
  • Tongo – TongoBeo Road: A shortcut connecting to the Bolgatanga–Bawku road, easing congestion in Bolga's CBD.
  • Yinduri–Santeng & Wakii–Tengzug: These roads, when constructed, will unlock the epicentre of Talensi culture and boost tourism.

The Tongo–Duusi road when constructed will open up the hinterlands for developmental purposes, bringing markets, schools and health facilities within reach of remote communities.

"The construction of these roads will not only ease traffic congestion but also offer alternative and shorter routes to Bawku and Togo." — Hon. John Millim Nabwomya, DCE
Solar street light installation in Tongo–Yameriga–Sheaga Rural Electrification

Powering Every Community: Extending the National Grid

Electricity is the foundation of modern development — it lights classrooms, powers clinics, drives small businesses and keeps families safe after dark. Yet many Talensi households still rely on firewood for cooking and live without reliable power.

Through the National and Rural Electrification Programmes and Common Fund support, quite a number of communities within the district have already been connected to the national grid. The district's ten (10) fuel stations already serve both the district and the Bolgatanga municipality, with five (5) more under construction.

Progress & Priority

  • Growing numbers of communities connected through the rural electrification programme.
  • Construction of LPG and petrol stations expanding energy access.
  • Clean cooking alternatives promoted to reduce dependence on wood fuel.

The Assembly continues to prioritise communities that remain off-grid, working with the national grid operators and the Common Fund to bring power to every corner of Talensi.

Rural electrification is not just about light — it is about opportunity for our schools, clinics and young entrepreneurs.
Repaired ambulance back into service Health

Bringing Quality Healthcare Closer to Home

Talensi's health landscape is anchored by thirty-six (36) health facilities — one hospital at the district capital, seven health centres, and twenty-seven CHPS zones — served by a dedicated workforce of nearly 300 health workers including medical doctors, midwives, general and community health nurses.

Recently, the Talensi MP and DCE broke ground for the construction of 2 CHPS compounds alongside classroom blocks and 15 boreholes, projects expected to dramatically improve access to quality healthcare, education and clean water for residents.

Expanding Access & Emergency Response

  • Repaired Ambulance: The Assembly proudly announced the return of a fully repaired ambulance back into service to strengthen emergency response.
  • CHPS Compounds: New community-based health planning and services compounds being constructed across the district.
  • Equipment & Staff: Advocacy for better staff accommodation, a DHMT office, and incentives to attract health professionals.
Health is the foundation of every other development. When our people are healthy, they can farm, learn and build the district.

The ten top diseases in the district — malaria, respiratory infections, rheumatism and others — remain focus areas for the District Health Management Team working in line with government's health policy to ensure adequate access to quality care.

DCE inspecting a school project Education

Every Child in School: 2000+ Desks and a Brighter Future

As a professional with a teaching background, the DCE has made education his top priority. With more than 2000 pieces of dual desks committed through the "1 million per constituency" projects, the Assembly is tackling head-on the twin problems of inadequate classroom infrastructure and furniture.

BECE performance in the district has historically been concerning — less than 50% of candidates make it to Senior High School. The Assembly is changing that through teacher motivation, capacity-building workshops, effective supervision and continuous public education to keep children — especially the girl-child — in school.

Key Interventions

  • Rehabilitating existing schools and constructing new classroom blocks across the district.
  • Providing over 2000 dual desks every year throughout the DCE's tenure.
  • Reducing the participation of school-age children in small-scale gold mining.
  • Constructing new classroom blocks and a KG through the SOCO project.
"Sound education is the foundation of any economy. We are committed to improving teaching and learning in every community." — Hon. John Millim, DCE

The district currently operates 214 educational institutions — 149 public and 65 private — spread across 10 circuits, with 708 trained teachers (90.65%).

Clean water / borehole hand pump Water & Sanitation

Safe Drinking Water For Every Household

Clean water is a right, not a privilege. With the Kulubiliga River running through most of the district's settlements and many residents depending on it for drinking water, safe water access remains a pressing need.

The Assembly has made significant strides — most recently, the MP and DCE broke ground for the construction of 15 new boreholes to improve access to safe drinking water and reduce the burden on communities that continue to rely on inadequate or unsafe sources.

Water & Environmental Health

  • 15 new boreholes underway across the district.
  • Mechanised boreholes for farming constructed through the SOCO project's local economic development.
  • National Monthly Clean-Up Exercise held at Tongo Central Market with the MP.
  • Community-Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) programmes to end open defecation.

The Environmental Health and Sanitation sub-programme continues to sensitise communities on keeping the environment clean, working hand-in-hand with development partners and community people where services are delivered.

"The projects are intended to improve access to safe drinking water and reduce the burden on communities relying on inadequate or unsafe sources."
Talensi District Blue Water Guards inauguration Mining & Environment

Responsible Mining & Protecting Mother Earth

Talensi is rich in gold, and artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) provides livelihoods for many. But mining also brings real challenges — land degradation, water contamination and the pull of children out of school.

In a landmark move, the Talensi District Assembly successfully inaugurated the Talensi District Blue Water Guards, marking a significant milestone in the district's collective efforts to protect its water bodies and promote responsible environmental stewardship.

Balancing Livelihoods with Protection

  • Blue Water Guards inaugurated to safeguard rivers and water resources from illegal mining activity.
  • Working with major mining companies (e.g. Earl) whose CSR focuses on Health, Water & Sanitation, Education and Social Support.
  • Teaming with the Environmental Protection Agency to ensure mining development does not compromise water security.
  • Promoting the "Greening Talensi" initiative to fight desertification and land degradation.

As a geographer, the DCE understands the fragility of the environment. Forest brigades, fire belts and the reduction of wood-fuel use are all part of the strategy to protect existing vegetation while sustaining the mining economy.

"We are concerned about the fast degradation of the physical environment. That is why 'Greening Talensi' is a core focus."
DCE engaging Nutrifood Ghana at the Pwalugu Tomato Factory Tomato Factory & Agriculture

Reviving the Pwalugu Tomato Factory

The Pwalugu Northern Star Tomato Factory, built in the early 1960s under Ghana's first President Kwame Nkrumah, stands as one of northern Ghana's most historic agro-processing facilities. After years of shutdown, the DCE is courting investors to bring it back to life.

In a strategic engagement with a delegation from Nutrifood Ghana Limited (makers of Tasty Tom Tomato Paste) — joined by Feed Ghana and an agricultural engineer from Nigeria — the DCE inspected the factory and assessed its viability for rehabilitation.

A Guaranteed Market for Farmers

  • Organising tomato farmers along the White Volta into production groups for a steady raw-material supply.
  • Engaging experts from the University of Ghana and a Swiss agricultural specialist for improved, high-yield organic tomato seeds.
  • Collaborating with the Upper East Regional Minister and the MP to advocate for the factory's revival.
  • Visiting the Tono Irrigation Scheme to evaluate support for large-scale tomato production.

Restoring the factory would provide a reliable market, reduce post-harvest losses and create thousands of jobs across the Upper East Region. Alongside it, government's flagship Planting for Food and Jobs programme keeps making affordable inputs and extension services available to farmers.

"We are inviting investors to revamp the defunct Pwalugu tomato factory — there will be adequate supply of raw materials from the district and others." — Hon. John Millim, DCE
All Development Projects

The Project Pipeline

Roads

Bitumen Overlay: Tongo–Yameriga–Sheaga–Duusi–Pelungu

Field inspections ongoing to improve connectivity and accelerate development.

● Ongoing2025–2026
Education

2 School Blocks + Classroom Furniture

Construction of new classroom blocks with the MP and provision of 2000+ dual desks.

● UnderwayOct 2025
Health

2 CHPS Compounds

New community health compounds to improve access to quality healthcare.

● UnderwayOct 2025
Water

15 New Boreholes

Safe drinking water for communities currently relying on inadequate sources.

● UnderwayOct 2025
SOCO

SOCO Project (GH¢4 Million)

9 projects — 2 health facilities, 1 KG, fish ponds, guinea fowl facilities and mechanised boreholes.

● Delivered2023
Agriculture

Pwalugu Tomato Factory Revival

Investor engagement with Nutrifood Ghana for rehabilitation and operationalisation.

● Engaging Investors2026
Health

Repaired Ambulance Back in Service

Improved emergency response capacity for the district's health facilities.

● Completed2026
Environment

Greening Talensi + Blue Water Guards

Tree planting, forest brigades and water body protection for a sustainable district.

● Active2026
Tourism

Eco-Museum & Cultural Tourism

Preserving artefacts and opening Yinduri–Santeng & Wakii–Tengzug to tourism.

● Planned2026
Energy

80 Solar Street Lights: Yameriga–Sheaga

Installation inspected by the DCE to improve safety and security on the hotspot stretch.

● Installing2026
Community

Polytank Support for Kpale

DCE's personal donation to improve water storage for fire response in Kpale.

● Donated2026

Want to Partner on These Projects?

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