Construction Of Mahama’s $2bn Expressway Starts Soon

President John Dramani Mahama has announced that $2 billion has been allocated to finance the construction of the Accra-Kumasi Expressway, with the funds sourced from Ghana's own resources. The money has already been deposited in a special account at the Bank of Ghana to ensure financial stability throughout the project. The President emphasized that the expressway will be built without borrowing from any external sources, with funding derived entirely from Ghanaian taxpayers.

The cleared right of way for the expressway, spanning 175.6 kilometers, was recently handed over by the Ghana Armed Forces to the government. The clearance of this section, completed in just 19 weeks, was one week ahead of schedule and marked a critical step in the preparatory works for the expressway. The total length of the proposed Accra-Kumasi Expressway is expected to be 198.7 kilometers, comprising six lanes.

This new alignment will significantly reduce the traveling distance between Accra and Kumasi, cutting it down by almost 70 kilometers compared to the existing 270-kilometer route.

Upon commencement of construction, the government pledged prompt payment of all certificates submitted by the contractor, ensuring that financial concerns would not impede the project's progress. The Accra-Kumasi Expressway is being developed under a special purpose vehicle, Accra Kumasi Expressway Limited, registered under the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund.

The government has also advertised an expression of interest for companies seeking to construct the expressway, with a four-week deadline for submissions followed by pre-qualification and contractor selection.

Once construction begins, the expressway will boast two toll interchanges, eight interchanges, four rest stops, tow trucks, and CCTV cameras along the route. The project will be managed by the Accra Kumasi Expressway Limited, which operates under the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund. President Mahama announced that he would personally cut the sod for construction before the end of the year, and that the Ghana Armed Forces Engineers Regiment had been designated as a major subcontractor to the main contractor. The regiment will be deployed to establish and clear its right of way in the Greater Accra orbital.