Governs Kwame Agbodza, the Minister for Roads and Highways, has announced that clearing works on the Accra-Kumasi Expressway are almost complete.
The Roads Minister disclosed that less than 20 kilometres of clearing work remains before the Accra-Kumasi Expressway project reaches Kumasi.
Governs Kwame Agbodza detailed that there is only a short stretch left before the expressway links up with the Kumasi Orbiter, also known as the Kumasi Ring Road.
The Roads Minister is quoted as saying, “We have less than 20 kilometres. I’m sure we have maybe around 10, 15 kilometres to hit Kumasi itself”.
Governs Kwame also credited the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, for his support and guidance on road infrastructure within the Kumasi enclave.
He disclosed that the Asantehene pushed for the completion of roads in the area to help bring the Sewua Hospital into operation to serve as a regional hospital for Kumasi.
“Since then, the contractor, Kofi Job, has returned to site and is doing very well,” he said.
“As we are told, he’s almost done with one leg of the work, and then the one that is to the right-hand side is where he’ll be working on. But we can assure you that he’s going to go ahead and complete the work,” he said.
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.
Meanwhile, the Roads Minister had earlier revealed 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.
In related news, the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department (CAGD) has refuted claims circulating on social media that the Mahama government has already spent almost GH¢11 billion on the Accra-Kumasi Expressway project.
According to CAGD, the alleged assertions are a misunderstanding of government accounting procedures.
In a statement, the CAGD explained that although funds earmarked for the flagship expressway project were transferred from the Consolidated Fund to Accra-Kumasi Expressway Limited, the transfer does not mean the money has been spent on construction.
@ghnow_ Outgoing Minister for Works, Housing and Water Resources, Kenneth Gilbert Adjei, has signed the official handover documents, with incoming Minister Ahmed Ibrahim also signing to formally complete the transition. #GHnow #fyp ♬ original sound – GHnow
@ghnow_ Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim has arrived at the Ministry of Works, Housing and Water Resources following his reassignment to the ministry by President John Dramani Mahama. #GHnow #fyp ♬ original sound – NDCMUSICHQ
