President John Dramani Mahama has confirmed that construction of the long-anticipated Accra-Kumasi Expressway will commence in early 2026, describing the project as a critical response to Ghana’s growing transport challenges and a central feature of the government’s expanded infrastructure agenda.
The President made the announcement while speaking at the opening ceremony of the University of Ghana’s 77th Annual New Year School and Conference on Tuesday, January 6.
Addressing policymakers, academics, and civil society leaders, President Mahama said the government is significantly scaling up investment in national infrastructure under the Big Push programme.
He revealed that while more than thirteen billion cedis was invested in the programme last year, the 2026 budget allocates an increased sum of 30.8 billion cedis to accelerate development across key sectors.
According to the President, the expanded investment will drive improvements in road transport, rail, aviation, health, education, agribusiness, and manufacturing.
Within this broader framework, he identified the Accra Kumasi Expressway as one of the most important and symbolic projects under the programme.
“Madam Chairperson, we are investing massively in improving our infrastructure. In 2026, we have allocated a whopping sum of 30.8 billion cedis for the Big Push programme, and one of the iconic projects under this effort is going to be the Accra-Kumasi Expressway.”
President John Dramani Mahama
Justification of the Project
The President used the occasion to respond to critics of the expressway project, drawing attention to the severe congestion experienced on the Accra Kumasi corridor during the recent festive season.
He recounted how traffic came to a standstill for several hours following a large religious convention, exposing the limitations of the existing road network.
“For those who have spoken against this expressway, I wish they were in the traffic jam over the new year, when one single church holding a convention brought the Accra Kumasi road into gridlock for more than seven hours”.
President John Dramani Mahama
President Mahama described it as unacceptable that Ghana’s two largest cities remain linked by a road system that struggles to accommodate increasing traffic volumes.
The President lamented that Accra, the capital and largest city, and Kumasi, the second-largest urban centre, play a central role in the country’s economy, yet the movement of people and goods between them remains constrained.
“It is a shame that we have a single lane road linking our two major cities,” the President said, adding that the situation would soon change. He expressed optimism about cutting the sod early in 2026 to formally begin construction of the expressway.
The Accra Kumasi Expressway is a new six lane highway project that is separate from the ongoing dualization of the existing Accra Kumasi highway, also known as the N6.
It is not yet open to traffic and represents a fresh infrastructure undertaking designed to modernize intercity transport. Construction is expected to begin in early 2026, with completion projected for 2029.
Approval of Concession Agreement
Approved by Parliament under a concession agreement, the expressway is intended to reduce travel time between Accra and Kumasi from an average of four to five hours to approximately two and a half hours.
The road will span a total length of 198.7 kilometres and will be built as a six lane dual carriageway, with three lanes in each direction. In selected urban sections, the road will be constructed to a four lane standard to integrate with existing city infrastructure.
The expressway will be designed for speeds of up to 120 kilometres per hour and will include eight major interchanges to facilitate smooth traffic flow.
Plans also provide for the construction of three bridges over the Birim and Pra rivers, as well as two 20 lane toll plazas. Four full service areas will be developed along the corridor, featuring fuel stations, rest stops, and emergency medical facilities to support motorists.
Funding for the project has been secured through a thirty billion cedi allocation in the 2026 budget under the Big Push infrastructure programme, making it a wholly government funded initiative.
The Minister for Roads and Highways, Governs Kwame Agbodza, has confirmed that the feasibility studies and design stages for the expressway are in their final phase, clearing the way for construction to begin as planned.
Modernization of Ghana’s Infrastructure
President Mahama framed the expressway as part of a broader vision to modernize Ghana’s infrastructure and support long term economic growth.
He noted that efficient transport systems are essential for reducing the cost of doing business, strengthening regional trade, and improving the daily lives of citizens.
The announcement has drawn significant attention at the New Year School, which is being held under the theme “Building the Ghana We Want, Together for Sustainable Development.”
For many participants, the Accra Kumasi Expressway represents a test case for government’s ability to deliver large scale infrastructure projects within defined timelines and budgets.
As anticipation builds toward the planned sod cutting in early 2026, the expressway is widely seen as a transformative intervention that could redefine mobility between southern and middle belt Ghana, while signaling a renewed commitment to infrastructure led development.
READ ALSO: BoG Plans Policy Workshop to Strengthen Domestic Gold Purchase Programme
