Accra-Kumasi Expressway to be operated and maintained for 50 years through toll revenue

The Accra-Kumasi Expressway is expected to be operated and maintained for 50 years under a government-owned company established specifically to manage the project, with tolling revenue used to recover construction and maintenance costs over the concession period.

Chief Executive Officer of the Accra-Kumasi Expressway Limited, Francis Ahlidza, said the company was established in 2025 after Parliament approved the concession for it to undertake the project. Speaking on Joy News’ The Pulse on Monday, September 14, Mr Ahlidza explained that the company’s mandate extends beyond the construction of the expressway to its long-term operation and maintenance.

“The company is entrusted with not just the construction of the project, but the design, the construction, and the maintenance for the next 50 years,” he said.

Tolling Revenue to Fund Construction and Maintenance

Mr Ahlidza said throughout the 50-year period, the company will be responsible for maintaining and operating the facility while raising revenue through tolling. The revenue will be used to pay for the construction and maintenance of the expressway while ensuring that the road remains at the required standard throughout its design life.

“The company, within the construction and the rest of the 50 years, has to maintain the road, to operate the facility, and also raise money through tolling to be able to pay back for both the construction and the maintenance within this period,” he said.

He added that the arrangement is intended to ensure that the level of service on the expressway remains consistent throughout the design life of the project.

Project Moves to Procurement Stage

The development comes after the Ghana Armed Forces completed the clearance and definition of the right of way for the proposed expressway. The military engineers cleared 175.6 kilometres of the corridor in 19 weeks, one week ahead of the original 20-week schedule.

Mr Ahlidza said the project has now moved into the procurement stage, with the designs completed and construction firms expected to be shortlisted based on their capacity to undertake the project. Companies with the requisite technical capacity are being invited to express interest before a shortlist is developed for the tendering stage.

Construction is expected to begin in January 2027, with government expected to cut the sod before the end of 2026.

A Transformative Infrastructure Project

The Accra-Kumasi Expressway is a flagship project under the government’s Big Push Infrastructure Programme. The planned six-lane dual carriageway is expected to reduce travel time between Accra and Kumasi from four to five hours to approximately two hours, and cut the travel distance by about 50 kilometres.

The project will include eight interchanges at various intersections, rest stops, and toll points. It is a wholly government-funded initiative, with Parliament approving the concession agreement in December 2025. The government has made provision in the 2026 Budget for an allocation of GH¢30 billion for the project, in addition to GH¢13.8 billion approved under the Big Push programme in the 2025 financial year.

The Accra-Kumasi Expressway Ltd is a special purpose vehicle established by the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund (GIIF). The company has been classified as a State-Owned Enterprise for funding and accounting purposes. The concessionaire is expected to transfer the project to the Ghana Highways Authority upon the expiration of the 50-year concession period.

Alternative Route, Not a Replacement

Roads and Highways Minister Governs Kwame Agbodza has assured that the expressway will operate as an alternative to the existing Accra-Kumasi highway, allowing motorists to choose between the tolled expressway and the free bypass.

“So, when we charge $20 for you to travel from Accra to Kumasi, it is not a burden on you. Please, you can conveniently use the existing road that takes you 5 hours or 6 hours or you can choose to do 2 hours from Accra-Kumasi,” he said.

The minister explained that the government’s objective is to use revenue generated from tolls to reinvest in expanding the road network, including future development from Kumasi towards Tamale.