By Alex Ababio
Parliament in Ghana has officially ratified the concession agreement between the Government of Ghana and Accra-Kumasi Expressway Ltd, ushering in a pivotal chapter in the country’s road infrastructure development. The approval signals a major boost for the government’s Big Push agenda, which aims to modernise critical transport corridors across Ghana.
Transforming the Nation’s Most Strategic Transport Link
Under the newly sanctioned plan, Accra-Kumasi Expressway Ltd, acting as the designated concessionaire, will take the lead in designing, financing, building, operating, and maintaining a new six-lane expressway connecting the capital, Accra, to Kumasi, the capital of the Ashanti Region and one of Ghana’s busiest economic hubs.
Officials say the project will:
Slash travel distance by more than 50 kilometres, from the current roughly 250 km route to about 198.7 km.
Reduce journey time between the two cities from approximately four to five hours down to just two hours.
Be a fully government-funded initiative under the Big Push Infrastructure Programme.
The expressway is being constructed on a new alignment, not merely upgrading the existing N6 corridor. It will be Ghana’s first purpose-built, access-controlled Class A expressway, tailored for higher-speed travel and improved safety.
Financing and Budget Provisioning
The 2026 National Budget has earmarked GH¢30 billion specifically for the Accra–Kumasi expressway project, demonstrating the government’s fiscal commitment to the venture.
In addition, the GH¢13.8 billion allocation from the Big Push programme in the 2025 fiscal year — which has already been drawn down — has been ring-fenced to support this prime infrastructure priority.
Government officials have emphasised that this project is a cornerstone for stimulating economic activity, especially in agriculture, trade, and logistics sectors that rely heavily on efficient road transport.
Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson has reinforced this stance, stating unequivocally that the expressway will be completed within the next three years, driven by a user-pay system and budget allocations under the Big Push initiative. “With the express road, you will pay something higher than a toll, but with a trunk road, you will not pay, or at worst, you pay only a toll fee. We are working on the financing for the Accra–Kumasi Expressway. The engineer’s estimate is already out…” he said.
What the Concessionaire Will Do
Accra-Kumasi Expressway Ltd — established as a special purpose vehicle (SPV) by the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund (GIIF) — will spearhead the implementation of the expressway.
As part of its mandate, the concessionaire will:
Conduct feasibility studies and select contractors;
Oversee construction in collaboration with the Ghana Highways Authority;
Install tolling systems and manage toll collection;
Build and operate ancillary services including fuel stations, rest stops, and emergency services;
Maintain the expressway and support facilities throughout the 50-year concession period.
Upon completion of the concession, the entire expressway will be transferred to the Ghana Highways Authority.
A Critical Artery in Need of Renewal
The current Accra–Kumasi highway is one of Ghana’s busiest road corridors, with an estimated daily traffic volume exceeding 10,000 vehicles.
However, the existing route is plagued by:
Extensive potholes and surface degradation;
Poor or non-existent lighting in many stretches;
Frequent accidents and safety challenges.
Experts and transportation specialists have described the initiative not just as a road project but as the backbone of Ghana’s vision for integrated transport infrastructure that connects commercial hubs and supports national development. “This is not merely asphalt and concrete — it’s the backbone for a fully integrated transport network,” one transport analyst commented recently, emphasising its strategic importance.
Substantial Economic and Social Benefits
The Parliamentary Committee on Roads and Transportation, which examined the concession agreement, identified several significant benefits of the scheme:
“The successful implementation of the expressway project will boost Ghana’s economy by improving trade, reduce transport costs, create jobs, enhance safety and modernise infrastructure linking the capital with major commercial hubs like Kumasi for better connectivity, tourism and agricultural logistics,”
the committee reported.
Additional projected gains include:
Creating over 30,000 direct and indirect jobs during construction.
Spurring industrial parks, logistics hubs, and a thriving service economy along the corridor.
Propelling Ghana’s competitiveness under the 24-Hour Economy programme.
The expressway will also feature eight major interchanges — strategically located to streamline traffic, ease urban congestion, and foster better regional linkages.
Parliamentary Debate and Calls for Prudence
While the approval garnered widespread backing, the expressway plan has also drawn critical scrutiny within Parliament.
Some lawmakers from the Minority caucus voiced caution regarding the government’s financing strategy for such a massive road investment, warning of potential risks and fiscal strain on public coffers.
Additionally, Hon. Francis Asenso-Boakye, former Minister of Roads and Highways, urged Parliament to carry out rigorous due diligence before moving the project forward. He stressed:
“Doing the right project must also mean doing it the right way.”
Asenso-Boakye highlighted that no completed feasibility study is before Parliament, the full project cost remains undetermined, and engineering designs are unfinished — suggesting that Parliament should “prudently safeguard value for money and fiscal sustainability.”
He echoed concerns raised by opposition MPs that diverting scarce funds into a new expressway may risk leaving the existing Accra–Kumasi dualisation project — currently about 60-70% complete — underfunded.
Furthermore, critics from the Minority caucus have described the expressway as a “misplaced priority,” asserting budget resources could be better targeted at sectors that directly generate jobs and economic returns.
Government’s Assurance: No Abandonment of Ongoing Works
Responding to scepticism over road investment consistency, Minister of Roads and Highways, Kwame Governs Agbodza, assured Parliament that the government is committed to completing ongoing road projects and not abandoning them.
He rejected the narrative that road projects had been halted for political reasons before the 2024 elections, pointing instead to scope changes and funding mismatches as the cause for contractor withdrawals. He underscored the government’s policy of continuity:
“We encourage all contractors to continue to work on every project that has been inherited to be continued.”
Mr Agbodza cited other projects — including the Ofankor-Nsawam and Kasoa-Winneba road works — where contractors had resumed activity under the current administration.
Looking Ahead: A National Game-Changer
As Ghana embarks on this historic expressway venture, the consensus among transport economists and industry specialists is clear: if executed with transparency, this project could reshape the nation’s economic geography.
By drastically reducing travel time across Ghana’s busiest economic spine, facilitating smoother goods movement, and enhancing regional connectivity, the Accra–Kumasi Expressway stands to be more than just a road — it could become a catalyst for investment, commerce, and national integration.
As one expert noted, “This project is a game-changer for Ghana’s multimodal transport ambitions, linking road, rail, and air networks in future planning,” underpinning its long-term strategic value.
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