The former Minister of Roads and Highways, Hon. Francis Asenso-Boakye, has strongly defended the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) legacy in initiating and sustaining Ghana’s road dualisation agenda, in response to recent pronouncements by President John Dramani Mahama.
In a statement issued following President Mahama’s announcement that his administration would prioritise the dualisation of the Accra–Kumasi, Accra–Takoradi, and Accra–Aflao road corridors, the Member of Parliament for Bantama welcomed the renewed commitment but insisted that credit for laying the foundation and executing key components of this agenda belongs squarely to the NPP.
According to the former minister, the deliberate effort to dualise Ghana’s major road corridors has never been just about improving convenience for travellers, but a strategic imperative aimed at unlocking national economic development.
“The NPP, under President Kufuor, recognised this early and laid a solid foundation by dualising critical sections such as Circle–Achimota, Nsawam, Nkawkaw, and Ejisu–Kumasi. These investments significantly reduced travel time and boosted economic activity.”
Hon. Francis Asenso Boakye, MP for Bantama and former Minister of Roads and Highways
Hon. Asenso-Boakye lamented what he described as an unfortunate lapse in momentum during the eight-year rule of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), which he claims resulted in stalled projects, neglected roads, and a general disregard for continuity.
“Projects stalled, completed roads deteriorated, and repeated calls for continuity were ignored,” he noted, suggesting that the NDC did not share the long-term infrastructure vision necessary to sustain development gains.
Akufo-Addo’s Renewal
He praised the resurgence of the road dualisation initiative under former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, who he said revived the agenda with renewed vigour and a suite of major projects.
Chief among these were the ongoing dualisation of the Ofankor–Nsawam highway and the construction of four critical bypasses at Anyinam, Osino, Enyiresi, and Konongo.
These projects, Hon. Asenso-Boakye argued, were not only meant to ease congestion in growing peri-urban towns but also to improve road safety and enhance the free movement of goods and services.
Highlighting the Pokuase Interchange—Ghana’s first four-tier interchange—as a symbol of the NPP’s commitment to modernising the country’s transport infrastructure, he underscored the party’s capacity to deliver even under fiscal stress.
The former minister was quick to note that while the New Patriotic Party welcomes any serious effort to improve infrastructure, it is important for the record to reflect the facts.
“Even under the harsh fiscal conditions following the COVID-19 pandemic, the NPP stayed the course. We support all genuine efforts to develop Ghana. But let the record reflect: this journey began with the NPP.”
Hon. Francis Asenso Boakye, MP for Bantama and former Minister of Roads and Highways
Calls for Completion of Existing Roads
He urged the current administration to prioritise the completion of the ongoing bypass projects, arguing that they are not random undertakings but carefully designed interventions forming part of a broader, long-term national strategy first envisioned and executed by the NPP.
The renewed promises from President Mahama under his “Big Push” initiative suggest a heightened focus on infrastructure financing and execution, particularly in addressing the country’s road network deficits.
However, the statement by the former Roads Minister appears to challenge what he perceives as an attempt to rewrite the historical narrative around road infrastructure development.
“We must be truthful about the history,” he urged, cautioning against political erasure of the foundational work done by the NPP over the years.
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