By BIG H
The planned Accra–Kumasi Expressway has moved a step closer to construction following the early completion of clearing works along the project’s right-of-way.
The 48 Engineer Regiment of the Ghana Armed Forces completed the clearing of the 175.6-kilometre corridor in 19 weeks—one week ahead of the original 20-week schedule.
The milestone was marked at Kwaso, near Ejisu in the Ashanti Region, on Monday, September 14, 2026, where the cleared corridor and completion report were formally presented to President John Dramani Mahama.
President Mahama praised the military engineers for their efficiency, discipline and commitment, describing their performance as evidence of the Ghana Armed Forces’ capacity to contribute more extensively to national infrastructure development.
He subsequently directed the Ministry of Roads and Highways to engage the Engineers Regiment as a major subcontractor during the construction of the expressway.
The President also announced that the military engineers would undertake right-of-way clearing for the proposed Greater Accra Orbital Road and assist with the installation of steel bridges across selected rivers and streams nationwide.
US$2 billion secured for project
The handover comes as the government prepares to move from preliminary works to the construction phase of the Accra–Kumasi Expressway.
President Mahama announced that an initial US$2 billion in domestic funds had been secured and placed in a dedicated account at the Bank of Ghana to support the project.
He said the project would be financed with Ghana’s own resources rather than external borrowing, assuring contractors that certified payments would be made promptly once construction begins.
The government expects to complete the procurement process and commence construction before the end of 2026.
Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson also reaffirmed the government’s commitment to mobilising the full amount required for the project by December 31, 2026, without adding to Ghana’s public debt.
Six-lane controlled-access highway
The proposed expressway is expected to cover approximately 198.7 kilometres, providing a modern six-lane controlled-access highway from Ablekuma in the Greater Accra Region to Sewua in the Ashanti Region.
It is expected to significantly reduce travelling time between Accra and Kumasi while improving road safety, lowering transportation and logistics costs and facilitating the movement of people and goods.
The project is also expected to include interchanges, service areas, maintenance facilities, monitoring centres, emergency-response services and other supporting infrastructure.
Ghana’s existing Accra–Kumasi road corridor has long served as one of the country’s most important routes for commercial and passenger traffic. However, increasing population, economic activity and traffic volumes have placed considerable pressure on the route.
President Mahama said the new expressway would serve a broader purpose than simply providing an alternative connection between Accra and Kumasi.
It is expected to form part of an integrated national transport network linking major highways and orbital roads, enabling heavy-duty vehicles to bypass congested city centres and improving mobility across the country.
Military engineering capacity commended
Roads and Highways Minister Kwame Governs Agbodza commended the Ghana Armed Forces for completing the assignment ahead of schedule and expressed confidence in the Engineers Regiment’s ability to contribute to the construction phase.
He said the government remained committed to ensuring that the expressway met the required technical, financial and safety standards, with quality, value for money and timely delivery remaining non-negotiable.
The clearing operation required military engineers to work through dense vegetation, difficult terrain, rivers, streams and challenging weather conditions along the corridor.
With the right-of-way now cleared, attention is shifting to contractor selection and the commencement of construction.
The project is expected to reshape travel and commerce between southern and central Ghana and establish a major transport corridor connecting the country’s two largest economic centres.
