Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson has described the upcoming Accra–Kumasi Expressway as the single most transformative infrastructure project under President Mahama’s Big Push agenda, insisting it will reshape national connectivity and drive economic growth for decades.
Presenting the 2026 Budget in Parliament, Dr. Forson said the six-lane, dual-carriage Class A highway is designed to be “a highway worthy of a nation on the rise.”
He noted that the 198.7km project follows a brand-new alignment that significantly shortens the current journey.
He stated, “The Accra-Kumasi Expressway is the flagship of President Mahama’s Big Push Infrastructure Programme. Stretching 198.7km, this expressway will become the central spine of Ghana’s economy, linking our capital city to Kumasi, the heartbeat of the Ashanti Region.”
According to him, the new alignment alone will cut the route by more than 50 kilometres — reducing the existing distance from 250km to “just under 199km.” The impact, he stressed, will be profound.
“Travel time between Accra and Kumasi will be cut by half. Transport costs are expected to fall by nearly 40%,” he said, adding that construction will generate “over 30,000 direct and indirect jobs for engineers, artisans, suppliers, and young people eager to work and build.”
Dr. Forson stressed that the project is not merely a road but a national economic engine.
“It will spark the development of new industrial parks, logistics hubs, storage centres, and service economies along its length. It will power our 24-hour economy and strengthen Ghana’s global competitiveness.”
The expressway will include eight major interchanges located at Accra Hub, Adieso, Asamankese, Akyem Oda, Ofoase, Lake Bosomtwe, and Kumasi — all designed to ease congestion and improve accessibility.
The Minister also highlighted key engineering features, including three major bridges over the Birim and Prah rivers, four highway service areas equipped with emergency medical centres, fire stations, EV charging points, rest areas and fuel stations.
“All these facilities will operate around the clock in keeping with our 24-hour economy,” he emphasised.
Dr. Forson added that two modern toll plazas — one in Accra and one in Kumasi — will have 20 automated lanes each to ensure efficient revenue collection with “minimal delays.”
Concluding his presentation, he described the expressway as a bold national commitment. “The Accra-Kumasi Expressway is not just concrete and asphalt. It is a bold statement of intent, a promise to build faster, connect deeper, and transform Ghana’s future.”
Source: theoverseeronline.com/
