By Benjamin A. Commey, GNA
Accra, Nov. 13, GNA – Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, the Minister for Finance, has announced major investments in road and bridge infrastructure as part of the government’s effort to drive economic growth, improve connectivity, and reduce food inflation.
Presenting the 2026 Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government to Parliament on Thursday, Dr. Forson revealed that GH¢30 billion had been allocated for the “Big Push” Infrastructure Programme in 2026 to fund strategic road and bridge projects across the country.
He said the “Big Push” initiative was central to government’s agenda to transform Ghana’s infrastructure landscape, stimulate job creation, and connect communities to markets and opportunities.
“The Big Push is ultimately about people, making it easier for farmers to reach markets, workers to reach jobs, and families to travel safely and affordably. It is about connecting every Ghanaian to opportunity,” Dr. Forson said.
He explained that the allocation would finance major ongoing and new projects, including the Accra–Kumasi Expressway and the Adawso–Ekye Amanfrom Bridge, which are expected to significantly enhance national mobility and open up economic corridors.
A flagship project under the Big Push Programme, he said, was the Accra–Kumasi Expressway, which would be Ghana’s first modern six-lane bi-directional Class A expressway, when constructed .
Stretching 198.7 kilometers, the Minister indicated that it would link the capital, Accra, to Kumasi, passing through the Greater Accra and Eastern Regions.
The new alignment, he said, would reduce the current travel distance from 250 kilometers to 198.7 kilometers, cutting travel time between the two major cities by half.
The project, he said, was also expected to reduce transport costs by nearly 40 per cent and create over 30,000 direct and indirect jobs during its construction phase.
Dr. Forson highlighted that the expressway would feature eight major interchanges located at Accra Hub, Adeiso, Asamankese, Akyem Oda, Ofoase, Lake Bosomtwe, and Kumasi, as well as three major bridges over the Birim and Pra Rivers.
In addition, four full-service areas, at Asamankese, Ayirebi, Ofoase, and Lake Bosomtwe would be equipped with fuel stations, rest stops, restaurants, vehicle repair centres, and emergency medical facilities to support 24-hour operation, while two modern 20-lane toll plazas would also be installed at the Accra and Kumasi ends, using automated systems for efficient revenue collection.
Dr. Forson said the expressway would serve as Ghana’s “economic spine,” connecting the south to the north and promoting industrial growth along its route.
“Beyond mobility, it will stimulate industrial parks, logistics hubs, and service economies along its route, powering the 24-hour economy and strengthening Ghana’s competitiveness,” he noted.
To tackle food inflation and support agricultural productivity, the Minister also announced the allocation of GH¢828 million for the construction of 1,000 kilometers of agricultural enclave roads.
The project, to be implemented by the Department of Feeder Roads under the Ministry of Roads and Highways, aims to connect major food-producing areas to markets, reduce transportation costs, and minimise post-harvest losses.
“The roads will be carefully selected to food-producing enclaves only, to ensure that food produced is transported from farm gates to markets efficiently, thereby reducing food inflation and enhancing food security,” Dr. Forson explained.
Additionally, he announced that GH¢4.3 billion had been allocated to the Ministry of Roads and Highways for road construction and rehabilitation projects in 2026.
Also, GH¢3 billion had been earmarked for the Ghana Road Maintenance Trust Fund to undertake the construction of 10 kilometers of roads in each of the 166 constituencies, ensuring that critical roads remained motorable and accessible.
“These investments will not only improve road connectivity but also create jobs, empower local contractors, and strengthen linkages with domestic industries in agro-processing, manufacturing, and construction,” the Minister said.
“Ghana will not only build to recover but build to transform,” he stressed, adding that: “Through the Big Push, we are proving that Ghana can build its way into prosperity, one road, one bridge at a time.”
GNA
Christian Akorlie