Alan Kyerematen, the Leader of the United Party, has argued against government funding for the $4 billion Accra-Kumasi Expressway.
According to Alan Kyerematen, the project could have been handed to the private sector and tolled, reducing the burden on public finances.
Alan accepted the Mahama government’s decision to pursue the long-awaited expressway but argued that the financing model could place an unnecessary burden on the state.
He argued that the commercial potential of the expressway makes it suitable for private-sector financing, adding that investors could recover their investment through toll revenues generated from road users over an agreed period.
Speaking at a public lecture at the British Council in Accra on Wednesday, September 23, Alan Kyerematen stated, “We should commend the NDC government for thinking about the Accra-Kumasi Expressway. But I think the government should not fund the $4 billion expressway. Why should you fund a road that can be tolled? It should have been given to the private sector. $4 billion could have done a lot for Ghana.”
The United Party founder and leader argued that the government could have preserved the funds earmarked for the project and redirected them towards other areas requiring significant public investment.
Meanwhile, President John Dramani Mahama has announced that $2 billion has been set aside to finance the construction of the Accra-Kumasi Expressway.
Mahama assured Ghanaians that funding will not be a challenge once work begins.
According to John Mahama, the money, which is taxpayers’ funds, has been placed in a special account at the Bank of Ghana to ensure prompt payment to the contractor throughout the project.
President Mahama also disclosed that all certificates presented by the contractor will be paid promptly to prevent construction delays.
Mahama also directed the Minister for Roads and Highways to incorporate the Ghana Armed Forces Engineers Regiment as a major subcontractor to the main contractor for the expressway.
Speaking at the handover ceremony of a 175.6-kilometre right-of-way cleared by the Ghana Armed Forces on Monday, September 14, “And let me also announce that this is our own money. We have not gone to borrow money from anywhere. This money is the taxpayers’ money”.
Also, Mahama disclosed that the proposed Accra-Kumasi Expressway will significantly reduce travel time between the two cities.
He revealed that the Accra-Kumasi Expressway to cut travel time to 2 hours when the project is completed.
Mahama stated, “When completed, as you were told, the recommended speed on the Expressway will be 120km per hour. You can drive at 120km per hour”.
“Even if he is travelling at 100km an hour, it means that the journey will take him two hours, instead of the five to six hours that we currently use on the old Accra-Kumasi highway,” President Mahama said.
Mahama emphasised that the reduced travel time would make it possible for people to commute between the two cities for business and return home the same day.
“And so Nana, when this Expressway is finished, you can leave Kumasi at 6 am, and you’ll be in Accra by 8 am,” he stated.
@ghnow_ Watch as EOCO officials reportedly attempt to arrest lawyer Nana Adjei Baffour Awuah, counsel for Nurse Salomey Bafor Awiti, at the Accra High Court. #GHNow #fyp ♬ original sound – GHnow
@ghnow_ EOCO Officials Attempt to Arrest Lawyer Nana Adjei Baffour Awuah at Accra High Court #GHNow #fyp ♬ original sound – GHnow
