Parliament has given the green light for a concession agreement to construct the long-anticipated Accra–Kumasi Expressway, a major infrastructure project aimed at easing pressure on Ghana’s busiest transport corridor.
Under the agreement, the Ministry of Roads and Highways will act as the contracting authority, while Accra-Kumasi Expressway Limited has been named as the concessionaire.
The approval comes at a time when the existing Accra-Kumasi highway continues to deteriorate, with motorists frequently complaining about potholes, uneven road surfaces and inadequate lighting along key stretches.
Addressing the House, Minister for Roads and Highways, Governs Agbodza, assured MPs that the project would move forward as planned, clarifying that the proposed expressway is not meant to replace the current highway but to serve as an alternative route.
He explained that international protocols under ECOWAS and the African Union allow tolling on expressways to help recover construction costs, provided road users have a free alternative.
“There’s no road in Ghana that is more important than the Accra–Kumasi road. What we are doing is something we will all be proud of, maybe in five years,” the minister told Parliament.
The project will involve the construction of a new six-lane dual carriageway, expected to significantly cut travel time, improve road safety and provide a faster, more efficient option for commuters travelling between Accra and Kumasi.
However, during deliberations on the report of the Road and Transport Committee, the Member of Parliament for Ofoase-Ayirebi, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, cautioned against neglecting the existing highway while attention shifts to the new expressway.
He noted that both the expressway and the current Accra–Kumasi highway are government-funded projects, urging authorities to ensure that outstanding works on the old road, particularly lighting are completed.
Mr Oppong Nkrumah also warned that with revenues yet to meet projections, government must be careful not to overstretch limited resources by running both projects without adequate funding.
Despite these concerns, government maintains that the expressway will transform one of Ghana’s most critical transport routes, offering travellers a safer, faster and more reliable option between the capital and the Ashanti Region.
