Parliament has given its approval to a concession agreement between the Government of Ghana and Accra Kumasi Expressway Limited for the development of the proposed Accra Kumasi expressway.
The planned 6 lane expressway will provide a direct connection between Accra and Kumasi, linking the national capital to the Ashanti Regional capital, which is one of Ghana most important commercial and industrial centres.
Once completed, the expressway is expected to reduce the distance between the two cities by about fifty kilometres and cut travel time from the current average of four to five hours to roughly two hours. This is expected to significantly improve transportation efficiency between the country two largest economic hubs.
The project is being fully financed by the government and will include eight interchanges positioned at key locations, as well as tolling points and designated rest areas. Government has already set aside 30 billion Ghana cedis in the 2026 budget to support the execution of the project.
In addition, a further 13.8 billion Ghana cedis previously approved under the Big Push programme in the 2025 financial year has been secured and earmarked to support the expressway construction.
Accra Kumasi Expressway Limited, the company awarded the concession, is a private entity created as a special purpose vehicle by the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund. The firm has experience in delivering large scale infrastructure projects and managing expressway developments.
Under the agreement, the company will be responsible for constructing, operating and maintaining the expressway over a 50 year period, with funding sourced entirely from government budgetary allocations. Its responsibilities include carrying out feasibility assessments, appointing contractors, overseeing construction works alongside the Ghana Highways Authority, and managing the operational phase of the project.
The concessionaire will also be tasked with installing toll collection systems, managing supporting facilities such as fuel stations and rest stops, and ensuring the long term maintenance and repair of the road infrastructure. At the end of the concession period, ownership and control of the expressway will be transferred to the Ghana Highways Authority.
The agreement was presented to Parliament by the Minister of Roads and Highways, Kwame Governs Agbodza, and was subsequently reviewed by the Committee on Roads and Transportation together with the leadership of the Finance Committee before being approved.
The existing Accra Kumasi highway currently handles daily traffic volumes exceeding ten thousand vehicles and has become a major concern for road users. Poor road conditions, inadequate lighting and surface deterioration have contributed to congestion and frequent accidents along the corridor.
Government officials say the new expressway will improve safety, ease traffic pressure and enhance connectivity between Accra, Ashanti Region, Bono Region and the northern regions, while supporting trade, tourism and economic growth.
According to a report by the Committee on Roads and Transportation, the expressway project holds strategic national importance and strong commercial potential due to high traffic demand and its location within a fast growing economic corridor. The committee noted that successful completion would help reduce transport costs, boost economic activity, create employment opportunities and modernise the country road infrastructure.
Addressing concerns that the existing Accra Kumasi highway could be neglected, Mr Agbodza assured Parliament that ongoing road projects would not be abandoned. He explained that earlier construction delays were the result of changes in project scope and funding challenges rather than government inaction.
He added that the current administration has encouraged contractors to resume work on all inherited projects, citing examples such as the Ofankor Nsawam and Kasoa Winneba roads where construction activities have restarted.
The minister disclosed that nearly eight hundred million Ghana cedis has already been released as initial payments for road projects, allowing some works to progress ahead of schedule. He further stated that close to six billion Ghana cedis has been paid for road projects initiated by the previous administration, rejecting claims that road works are being abandoned.
