Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, the Minister for Finance, has said the John Mahama-led government is committed to completing the 198-kilometre Accra–Kumasi Expressway in three years.
The Finance Minister revealed, 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.”
In related news, President John Mahama has made a bold declaration that Ghana will have the best roads in West Africa within the next 24 months under the Big Push Initiative.
According to John Mahama, his government is dedicated to constructing more roads over the next two years, with the aim of making transportation safer and more efficient.
Speaking at the sod-cutting ceremony of the 195-kilometre Wenchi–Bole–Sawla–Wa Road, President Mahama stated, “I wish to repeat my apology and regret to the people of Ghana that with the start of the big push, the whole of Ghana is going to be a construction site for the next two years.
Wherever in this county you go, the road will be under construction, so I ask the Ghanaians to be patient with us and to accept the inconvenience.
Twenty-four months after the launch of the Big Push, you will have the best roads in West Africa”.
He further added, “For the past few years, this strategic artery has been allowed to deteriorate. Potholes, failed pavements, and broken drains have made travel difficult and hazardous.
Vehicle operating costs have risen by nearly 40%, and travel time between Wenchi, Sawla, and Wa can take up to eight hours. Because of the slow pace of movement, armed robberies have also become common. This is unacceptable in modern Ghana.”
According to President Mahama, when the road is completed, travel time will he cut by 50 per cent.
President Mahama added, “When completed, travel time between Wenchi and Wa will be cut by more than 50%, road accidents will reduce by about 45%, and farm produce will reach markets on time. This is the essence of the 24-hour economy: good roads that support production, processing, and logistics to run continuously, creating jobs and sustaining livelihoods.”
“Under this phase of the Big Push, we will reconstruct the Fufulso–Sawla Road and complete the Bole–Mandari–Chache connection to the Ivory Coast border”.
“This will create a continuous high-quality highway from Techiman through Wenchi, Bamboi, Sawla, Wa, and Hamile, connecting the agricultural heartlands of the middle belt to our northern frontier”, he revealed.
Mahama further directed contractors to prioritise local labour and local suppliers during the construction to boost the local economies.
“If you need labour, take the local people, don’t bring workers from elsewhere. If you need food or water, our people here are enterprising enough to supply you. I urge the youth from Bamboi, Banda, Tinga, Bole, and Sawla to take advantage of this opportunity”, he stated.