Accra-Kumasi Expressway: “We don’t know when” – Affected communities await compensation

President John Mahama is set to break ground soon for the construction of the Accra-Kumasi Expressway, a project that aims to improve transportation between two significant cities. The Ghana Armed Forces have already cleared the entire 175.6-kilometer stretch within a span of 19 weeks. Though residents and farmers affected by the road project are pleased with the cleared path, they are demanding early compensation for their lost properties.

The construction of the six-lane expressway, when completed, will provide a faster and more convenient route between Accra and Kumasi. However, the progress of the project has come at a cost for the communities residing along the stretch.

One of the affected residents, Iddrisu, has lived in a mud house with his wife and children for over three decades. He is set to leave his home and build a modern house, but the process requires a considerable amount of cash. The 14-acre cocoa farm, which is his livelihood, has already been cleared, and he is still waiting for compensation.

Their land measurement has also been altered, with areas not previously agreed upon being demolished. Iddrisu expressed his worry about the timeline for receiving compensation, stating that they do not know when they will be compensated.

Another affected resident, Salifu Sakar, is the Unit Committee Secretary for the community. He has noticed that those without farms are not receiving compensation, while those with farms are. Salifu is concerned about the fairness of the compensation distribution and the lack of clarity on when they will receive the funds. The Accra-Kumasi Expressway project is the largest infrastructure project under the government's Big Push Agenda, and once finished, it will stretch approximately 175.6 kilometers from the capital city to the middle belt of the country.

The Ministry of Finance has plans to secure local funding for the project by the end of the year. Despite the hardships faced by the communities, they remain hopeful that the project will bring economic benefits and improved road access.