Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson has assured Ghanaians that the full amount required to construct the Accra-Kumasi Expressway will be available by December 2026, with no external borrowing planned for the project.
He gave the assurance on Monday, September 14, during the handover of a 175.6-kilometre right of way cleared ahead of construction.
Dr Forson said arrangements were already in place to mobilise the money domestically, allowing work to proceed without placing another loan on Ghana’s public debt.
“For the avoidance of doubt, we will not borrow a pesewa for this construction,” he said.
Cleared route opens way for construction
The completed clearing exercise covers the route from Ablekuma in the Greater Accra Region to Sewua in the Ashanti Region. It forms a major part of the groundwork for the proposed 198.7-kilometre expressway.
“This handover clears the way for an expressway that will cut travel time and transport cost, improve road safety and set a new standard for our infrastructure delivery.” - Dr Ato Forson
The funding pledge now puts attention on the government’s domestic financing plan. Details of the total project cost and how the money will be mobilised were not provided at the ceremony.
Faster link between Accra and Kumasi
The planned six-lane road is expected to create a faster connection between Ghana’s two largest cities and ease pressure on the existing Accra-Kumasi highway.
Government expects the expressway to improve the movement of passengers and commercial goods while reducing congestion, vehicle operating costs and travel time along the busy corridor.
The project is also being positioned as a test of whether Ghana can deliver major infrastructure using domestic resources while avoiding fresh debt.
With the right of way now handed over, the next key deadline is December, when the Finance Minister says every pesewa required for construction will be ready.
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