The construction of the John Mahama government’s 198km Accra–Kumasi expressway project under the Big Push initiative has begun, with troops from the Ghana Armed Forces officially commencing preparatory works on the project corridor.
The construction of the Accra–Kumasi Expressway is gaining momentum, with GAF engineering units operating from a base camp at Asuboa near Akim Oda, which are currently undertaking extensive clearing within the designated stretch of the expressway.
In a viral video shared by the Minister of Finance, Dr Cassiel Forson, the Engineering units from the Ghana Army, based at Asuboa near Akim Oda, were spotted currently engaging in extensive land preparation and clearing within the planned expressway corridor to create way for construction to commence.
According to the GAF engineering units, they are five weeks into the clearing of the way for the construction of the Accra–Kumasi Expressway, adding that they have cleared 17.5km, which is about 10 per cent of the total works they are supposed to execute.
The Chief of Defence Staff, William Agyapong, was also spotted inspecting the ongoing works on the Accra-Kumasi Expressway, where Ghana Armed Forces engineers have cleared 17.75km of the 175.6km corridor.
Ato Forson, in his post, wrote, “Congratulations to the Ghana Armed Forces for the remarkable speed and efficiency with which they are clearing the way for the construction of the Accra–Kumasi Expressway!”.
It will be recalled that during the 2025 budget presentation by Ato Forson, disclosed that the Accra-Kumasi Expressway is the flagship of President Mohammed’s Big Push infrastructure program.
According to the Finance Minister, the project will include eight interchanges, three major bridges, round-the-clock service areas, and automated tolls, aiming to boost connectivity between Accra and Kumasi.
He disclosed that it will be “Ghana’s first fully modern six-lane bi-directional Class A expressway, a highway worthy of a nation on the rise. Stretching 198.7 kilometres, this expressway will become the central spine of Ghana’s economy, linking our capital city, Accra and Kumasi, the heartbeat of the Ashanti Region and also cutting through the Greater Accra and Eastern Regions, creating a powerful southern-northern economic corridor that connects people, markets, and opportunities. To achieve this, the expressway follows a brand new alignment.”
Also, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson announced that the government is committed to completing the 198-kilometre Accra–Kumasi Expressway in three years.
The Finance Minister revealed that the expressway is one of the top priorities of the Mahama government under the Big Push Infrastructure Programme.
According to Ato Forson, the 198-kilometre Accra–Kumasi Expressway is designed to ease travel, improve safety and connect Ghana’s two largest cities.
He further revealed that the project will operate on a user-pay model, explaining that the toll will differ.
Speaking on the Citi Breakfast on Friday, November 14, 2025, Dr Forson stated, “With the express road, you will pay something higher than a toll, but with a trunk road, you will not pay, or at worst, you pay only a toll fee.
“We are working on the financing for the Accra-Kumasi Express road. The engineer’s estimate is already out, but because they have yet to tender it out, I cannot put the financing out like that.
“We have budgeted 30 billion for Big Push. President Mahama will finish this project before he leaves office,” he said.
When asked if the 198km Accra–Kumasi Expressway could be completed within three years, Ato Forson stated, “Yes, we will get it done.”
Similarly, Kwame Governs Agbodza, the Minister for Roads and Highways, has announced that the government’s proposed Accra–Kumasi expressway project will take off mid-year after feasibility and costing.
The Roads Minister detailed that the government is taking a guarded approach to avoid cost overruns and design errors.
Speaking on JoyNews’ Super Morning Show, the Road Minister explained, “We want to take time to make sure that when we come out and say we need X amount of money to build the about 200km from Accra to Kumasi, we don’t come back and tell you that we want to double that money simply because we made a mistake,” Mr Agbodza said.
“We are expecting the final draft somewhere May, June, but we are giving ourselves July or August, just in case there’s something they missed or something we need to add,” he explained.
Meanwhile, some Ghanaians reacting to the video shared by Ato Forson wrote, “Mobilise all the Drip machines to these sites and speed up the process . Don’t forget to keep the middle lane for high-speed trains in the future. Let’s plan ahead now”.
Another Facebooker wrote, “This is a good initiative, Cassiel Ato Forson. My suggestion is that, when the contract is awarded, let’s make the Ghana Armed Forces the supervisory body to oversee the timely execution of the project”.
One more Ghanaian wrote, “My only prayer is to see this manifesting into reality. We have seen and heard about things like this so many times. @GhArmedForces, you can’t disappoint.
The only respected institution we have left, please let that confidence we have in you glow”.
A netizen added, “Nice one, things we like to see. Mahama should just complete this project for us. This is of very high importance, and I think we shouldn’t need to politicise it or do any propaganda with it to slow it down”.
Watch the video below:
Congratulations to the Ghana Armed Forces for the remarkable speed and efficiency with which they are clearing the way for the construction of the Accra–Kumasi Expressway! pic.twitter.com/5TG8QCHILp
— Cassiel Ato Forson (PhD) (@Cassielforson) May 5, 2026