Accra-Kumasi Expressway to feature 8 interchanges, 11 overpasses and 55 bridges

The Accra-Kumasi Expressway will include eight grade-separated interchanges, 11 vehicle overpasses and 55 mainline bridges, project officials have disclosed, as the government formally received 175.6 kilometres of cleared right-of-way for the flagship infrastructure project.

Engineer Francisco, Managing Director of Accra-Kumasi Expressway Limited, announced the structural details on Monday during the handover ceremony at Kwaso, near Ejisu in the Ashanti Region. He said the infrastructure forms part of measures to improve road safety and ease traffic along the corridor .

Project Scope and Design

The expressway will span approximately 198.7 kilometres, linking Ablekuma in the Greater Accra Region to Sewua in the Ashanti Region. The development comprises about 176 kilometres of newly constructed expressway and 23 kilometres of upgraded connector roads at the Accra and Kumasi ends .

The mainline will be a Class A highway featuring a three-lane dual carriageway on a 36-metre standard roadbed with a design speed of 120 kilometres per hour. Connector roads will be Class B with a speed limit of 60 kilometres per hour .

Beyond the interchanges and bridges, the project will include nine at-grade intersections, approximately 200 reinforced concrete box culverts, and four service areas where motorists can rest, eat and attend to their vehicles. Eight tolling locations, one operating centre, and two monitoring centres will support traffic management and incident response .

Additional facilities include a fire service and ambulance station, three maintenance depots, road safety systems and electromechanical works to support an intelligent transport system .

Economic Impact

Engineer Francisco said the expressway is expected to reduce the distance between Accra and Kumasi by about 50 kilometres, cut journey times by 50 per cent and reduce travel costs by approximately 40 per cent .

“When completed, this road will provide safer and more reliable transport and reduce the pressure on the N6,” he said .

Funding Secured

President John Dramani Mahama, speaking at the same ceremony, announced that $2 billion has been set aside for the project, with the funds already available in a special account at the Bank of Ghana. He emphasized that the money was not borrowed but came from Ghanaian taxpayers .

“The Minister of Finance has set aside $2 billion for the project,” Mahama said. “The money is not borrowed funds but comes from Ghanaian taxpayers” .

Finance Minister Cassiel Ato Forson assured that the full amount needed for construction would be available by December 31, 2026, reiterating that government would not borrow to finance the project .

“For the avoidance of doubt, we will not borrow a Pesewa for this construction,” Forson stated .

Right-of-Way Clearance Completed

The Ghana Armed Forces completed the clearing of the 175.6-kilometre right-of-way in 19 weeks, one week ahead of the 20-week deadline. The cleared corridor stretches from Ablekuma through forests, rivers and streams to Sewua, passing through the Greater Accra, Eastern and Ashanti Regions .

President Mahama described the achievement as “mission accomplished” and announced that the Engineer Regiment of the Ghana Armed Forces would be honoured at the next National Honours ceremony to mark Ghana’s 70th Independence anniversary .

He also directed the Minister of Roads and Highways to incorporate the Ghana Armed Forces’ Engineer Regiment as a major subcontractor to the main contractor for the expressway .

Next Steps

Construction is scheduled to begin in January 2027, according to Francis Ahlidza, Chief Executive Officer of Accra-Kumasi Expressway Limited. President Mahama is expected to cut the sod for the project before Christmas 2026 .

The government has invited expressions of interest from companies interested in constructing the expressway, with pre-qualification and contractor selection to follow .

The project is being managed by Accra-Kumasi Expressway Limited, a special purpose vehicle registered under the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund, with its own chief executive, management team and governing board . It forms a flagship component of the government’s Big Push Infrastructure Programme and is expected to create more than 30,000 direct and indirect jobs during construction .