Parliament has approved a concession agreement to allow for the construction of a new Accra–Kumasi Expressway, aimed at improving safety and reducing travel time between Ghana’s two largest cities.
Under the agreement, the Ministry of Roads and Highways will serve as the Contracting Authority, while Accra–Kumasi Expressway Limited has been appointed as the concessionaire responsible for financing, constructing, and operating the expressway.
The approval comes at a time when the existing Accra–Kumasi highway is in poor condition, with motorists frequently complaining about potholes, uneven road surfaces, and poor lighting, which have contributed to accidents and travel delays.
Presenting the agreement to Parliament, the Minister for Roads and Highways, Governs Agbodza, assured Members of Parliament that the new expressway will not replace the current highway. Instead, it will serve as a high-standard alternative route for motorists.
He explained that international transport rules allow governments to charge tolls on expressways to recover construction costs, provided that road users have access to a free alternative route.
“When you build an expressway, you are allowed to charge a certain level of toll to recover the cost, but you must have an alternative,” the minister said, stressing that the existing Accra–Kumasi highway will remain open to the public.
The project involves the construction of a six-lane dual carriageway, designed to meet modern safety standards and significantly cut travel time between Accra and Kumasi. Officials say the expressway will also boost economic activity by improving the movement of people and goods along the corridor.