Mahama names 48 Engineer Regiment as major sub-contractor for Accra-Kumasi Expressway

Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson has assured that the government will not borrow to finance the construction of the Accra-Kumasi Expressway, saying the full amount required for the project will be available by December 2026. He said government had put measures in place to mobilise the needed resources domestically to ensure the 198.7-kilometre project proceeds without financial constraints once construction begins. The Minister made the assurance on Monday, September 14, at the handover ceremony of the 175.6-kilometre right-of-way cleared by the Ghana Armed Forces.

“This handover clears the way for an expressway that will cut travel time and transport cost, improve road safety and set a new standard for our infrastructure delivery,” Dr Ato Forson said. He added: “As your Minister for Finance, I want to use this opportunity to assure the nation that the entire amount needed for the construction of this expressway will be ready by December 2026. For the avoidance of doubt, we will not borrow a Pesewa for this construction.” The project is expected to improve connectivity between Accra and Kumasi, while reducing travel time and transport costs and easing pressure on the existing road network.

Government also expects the new expressway to enhance road safety by providing modern infrastructure capable of accommodating growing traffic along the corridor. The Ghana Armed Forces has formally handed over a 175.6-kilometre right-of-way to the government to pave the way for construction of the proposed Accra-Kumasi Expressway. The handover took place at Kwaso in the Ashanti Region on Monday, September 14, during an event attended by President John Dramani Mahama.

The cleared stretch was prepared by the 48 Engineer Regiment of the Ghana Armed Forces as part of efforts to secure the land required for the major road project. The right-of-way forms part of the route reserved for the construction, operation and future maintenance of the proposed 198.7-kilometre expressway. President Mahama said the project would introduce a new alignment between Accra and Kumasi, cutting the distance by nearly 70 kilometres compared with the existing highway.

He said the six-lane road, with a recommended speed limit of 120km per hour, would significantly reduce the time spent travelling between the two cities. “When completed, as you were told, the recommended speed on the Expressway will be 120km per hour. You can drive at 120km per hour,” President Mahama said.

He added that even at 100km per hour, motorists could make the journey in about two hours, compared with the five to six hours currently required on the existing Accra-Kumasi highway. President John Dramani Mahama has announced that $2 billion has been secured to finance the construction of the Accra-Kumasi Expressway, assuring that funding will not delay the project once construction begins. The President said the funds, sourced from taxpayers, have been placed in a dedicated account at the Bank of Ghana to facilitate prompt payments to the contractor throughout the project.