By Godwill Arthur-Mensah
Accra, Dec. 18, GNA – Parliament has adopted the report of the Roads and Highways Committee on the concession agreement between the Government of Ghana and Accra-Kumasi Expressway Limited for the construction of a modern expressway linking Accra to Kumasi.
Presenting the Committee’s report on Wednesday December 17, Mr Isaac Adjei-Mensah, Chairman of the Roads and Highways Committee, said the agreement was between the Ministry of Roads and Highways, representing the state, and Accra-Kumasi Expressway Limited, the concessionaire.
He explained that the government had ring-fenced GHS 30 billion in the 2026 budget and an additional GHS 13 billion from the Big Push infrastructure programme to finance the project, which is expected to be completed within three years.
Mr Adjei-Mensah assured the House that the existing Accra-Kumasi road project would not be abandoned, stressing that the new expressway would serve as a vital link between the southern part of the country and the middle belt zone.
Mr Kwame Governs Agbodza, Minister of Roads and Highways, reiterated the government’s commitment to continue all road projects inherited from the previous administration.
He said the Mahama-led government had already paid GHS 6 billion to contractors who were working on road projects before it assumed office on January 7, 2025.
He described the Accra-Kumasi Expressway as the largest road project in Ghana’s history and a potential “economic growth pole.”
He dismissed claims that no feasibility study had been conducted, assuring Parliament that the project would be delivered on schedule.
Contributing to the debate, Mr Kwame Anyimadu-Antwi, New Patriotic Party Member of Parliament for Asante-Akim Central, said the Minority Caucus was not opposed to the project but was concerned about the need for alternative routes during the construction phase.
He expressed concern that the old Accra-Kumasi road might be neglected and called for clear plans to maintain the existing project.
The Minority also raised concerns about the speed with which the agreement was being facilitated, cautioning that adequate feasibility studies must be ensured before implementation.
The adoption of the report paves the way for the commencement of the landmark expressway project, which is expected to transform transportation between Ghana’s capital and the Ashanti regional hub.
GNA
Edited by Lydia Kukua Asamoah