By Yussif Ibrahim, GNA
Kumasi, July 24, GNA – Dr. Cassiel Ato Baah Forson, the Minister of Finance, on Thursday, July 23, presented the 2026 Mid-Year Fiscal Policy Review of the Government of Ghana to Parliament, outlining a raft of infrastructure and development commitments, some of which directly touch the Ashanti Region.
Presenting the Review under the theme “Resetting for Growth, Jobs, and Economic Transformation,” Dr Forson gave an account of the country’s fiscal performance for the first half of the year 2026 and outlined priorities for the remainder of the year.
Among the projects highlighted with direct relevance to the Ashanti Region is the Accra-Kumasi Expressway, described as the flagship project under the Government’s Big Push Programme.
The 176-kilometre, six-lane, bidirectional expressway is expected to cut travel time between Accra and Kumasi to about two hours upon completion, while easing congestion, improving road safety and lowering transport costs between the country’s two largest commercial cities.
According to the Finance Minister, as of July 22, 2026, the Ghana Armed Forces had cleared 122 kilometres, representing about 70 percent of the required Right-of-Way, within 12 weeks, with the entire corridor expected to be cleared by the first week of September 2026.
The Minister disclosed that US$1.7 billion had already been deposited into a dedicated Accra-Kumasi Expressway Account at the Bank of Ghana, ring-fenced for use once the main construction contract was awarded.
He also touched on ongoing works within Kumasi itself, noting that government had secured a ¥3 billion grant from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to upgrade the 3.2-kilometre Santasi-Ahodwo section of the Kumasi Inner Ring Road.
The project will widen the road and improve intersections, drainage and pedestrian facilities to strengthen connectivity within the metropolis.
Additionally, the construction of the Suame Interchange Phase II and the Kumasi Outer Ring Roads were cited among road projects progressing under the period under review, alongside similar works in Sunyani and Tamale.
On the Accra-Kumasi highway, the Minister reported progress on bypass construction at Osino, Anyinam, Enyiresi and Konongo, in the Ashanti Region, with individual sections recording completion levels ranging between 60 percent and full completion.
The Minister further disclosed that Ashanti forms part of “Cluster Three” under a new feeder roads rehabilitation programme, which will see 250 kilometres of roads rehabilitated across Ashanti, Bono, Bono East and Eastern Regions, as part of a first-phase target of 1,050 kilometres of feeder roads spanning four agricultural clusters and 13 regions nationwide.
Government said the programme was expected to improve connectivity between farms and markets, reduce post-harvest losses, lower transport costs and create about 25,000 direct and indirect jobs, including at least 7,500 for women.
Dr Forson assured Parliament that government would, in the second half of the year, fast-track projects nearing completion, improve contractor performance and remove bottlenecks to ensure timely delivery of these commitments.
GNA
Edited by Kwabia Owusu-Mensah/Benjamin Mensah
Reporter: Yussif Ibrahim
Reporter’s email address: [email protected]