Accra-Kumasi Expressway: $2bn ready as gov’t targets $4bn by end of 2026 – Mahama

The government has set a $4 billion financing target for the Accra-Kumasi Expressway by the end of 2026, with $2 billion already available in a dedicated account for the project.

President John Dramani Mahama announced the financing position as government formally moves the project into its next phase following the completion of the right-of-way clearance.

Government spokesperson Felix Kwakye Ofosu disclosed the President’s update in a post on Facebok after the cleared corridor was handed over at Ejisu-Kwaso in the Ashanti Region on Monday, September 14, 2026.

According to Mr. Kwakye Ofosu, the $2 billion currently in the special account will support the commencement of the project, while government expects the amount to reach $4 billion before the end of the year.

“President Mahama says there is currently $2 billion in a special account for the commencement of the Accra-Kumasi Expressway.

“By close of year, there will be $4 billion in the account to fully finance the project.”

The financing update comes as the government prepares to advance work on the proposed six-lane expressway under its flagship Big Push Infrastructure Programme.

The Ghana Armed Forces has completed the clearance of approximately 175.6 kilometres of the project’s right-of-way.

The exercise was completed in 19 weeks, one week ahead of the original 20-week schedule, despite dense vegetation and difficult terrain along parts of the corridor.

The 198.7-kilometre expressway is planned as a modern six-lane dual carriageway linking Greater Accra to Kumasi through the Eastern Region.

The project is expected to improve connectivity, reduce travel time and road congestion, enhance safety, and facilitate the movement of people and goods.

The 2026 Budget projects that the expressway could cut travel time between Accra and Kumasi by half and reduce transport costs by nearly 40%.

Roads and Highways Minister Kwame Governs Agbodza has described the project as a major generational intervention that could become one of the defining infrastructure achievements of the Mahama administration.

“Accra-Kumasi Expressway is our generational intervention. We are going to be 70 years. The President’s vision is that we should do something so that the generations ahead of us will say that when we were also here, we did something remarkable.”

Mr. Agbodza also compared the project to major infrastructure developments undertaken under Ghana’s first President, Dr Kwame Nkrumah.

“Dr. Nkrumah and others did other things: they did the Tema Motorway, they did the port, and other things. We also must do something to hold our place in history on behalf of our people,” he said.

With the right-of-way now cleared and formally handed over, the project is expected to proceed to detailed engineering design and procurement ahead of the main construction works.

The 2026 Budget also projects that the project could create more than 30,000 direct and indirect jobs during construction.

Government has maintained that the expressway will be financed without resorting to new borrowing, with Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson stating, “For the avoidance of doubt, not a single pesewa will be borrowed for this project.”