Contractors working on the Accra–Kumasi Highway have been reassured by Kwame Governs Agbodza, Minister for Roads and Highways, that the government is still committed to finishing all ongoing road projects, even as it gets ready to build a new motorway connecting the two major cities.
He clarified that the projected Accra–Kumasi Motorway is meant to supplement the current route as part of a larger national road investment strategy rather than to replace it.
During his statewide road inspection tour on Monday, May 11, 2026, Mr Agbodza told road contractors in the Eastern Region that both projects are priorities under the government’s transportation development program.
“The government has the intention to build a new road known as the Accra-Kumasi Expressway, which is not a substitute for the existing Accra-Kumasi Highway. It is supposed to complement that one. So nobody should be afraid that because we are doing the expressway, the existing ones will no longer be a priority,” he said.
He explained that the current highway will continue to serve commuters who want a less expensive route, while the motorway would operate on a commercial basis, providing faster travel times for drivers willing to pay tolls.
According to Mr. Agbodza, drivers would have choices based on their preferences for pricing and trip duration.
“For instance, this is an existing road. By the ECOWAS convention that we have signed up to, we need to build expressways. But when you build expressways, you must have an alternative because the expressways are supposed to be commercial,” he said.
“So if somebody wants to drive from Accra to Kumasi on the expressway and pay $10, $50, whatever the cost may be, somebody can do it in two hours. Somebody can decide, I want to do the existing Accra-Kumasi in five hours, six hours. That is a choice for the person to do,” he explained.
Additionally, he expressed optimism that most of the ongoing projects could be completed by the end of 2027 if execution goes according to plan and reassured contractors that the government will finish any lingering work on both projects.
He states that agreements have been reached with contractors regarding implementation schedules and costs, and some are anticipated to finish projects ahead of schedule.
According to Mr. Agbodza, the promise is intended to increase clarity for road sector players and reaffirm the government’s commitment to infrastructure development.
“In any case, that will also be tolled anyway because it’s an investment we are putting in it. So let everybody in the country be assured that the two projects are priorities for the government. We are going to complete all of them,” he said.
Source: newsthemegh.com