Accra-Tema Motorway project to serve as model for infrastructure financing – ATEL CEO

Louis Harrison, the CEO of A.T. Expressway Limited (ATEL), revealed that the Accra-Tema Motorway and Extensions Project aims to set a new standard for financing and constructing large-scale infrastructure in Ghana without burdening the state financially. Speaking at a media event in Accra, Mr. Harrison highlighted the project's significance as a landmark in Ghana's infrastructure development, showcasing how Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) can bring private and institutional investment into crucial national initiatives.

The motorway is ATEL's inaugural PPP toll road concession, managed under a 30-year agreement, during which ATEL will finance, rebuild, expand, operate, and maintain the expressway and its extensions. Collaborating with the government via the Ministry of Roads and Highways, the Ghana Highway Authority, and the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund (GIIF) as a sponsor, Harrison emphasized that the project's success could serve as a blueprint for future infrastructure projects in Ghana and the sub-region.

The original Accra-Tema Motorway, completed in 1965 to connect Accra to Tema, the country's major industrial city and port, has seen increased traffic, commercial activities, and freight movement, necessitating its reconstruction and expansion. Harrison noted that the motorway's capacity has far exceeded the original design expectations, requiring urgent modernization to enhance safety and boost economic activity in the Greater Accra Region.

While acknowledging the temporary inconveniences caused by construction, including diversions and lane closures, Mr. Harrison pledged ATEL's commitment to prioritizing safety, transparent communication, and delivering an expressway worthy of public patience. To keep the public informed, ATEL launched an official website to provide updates on construction, traffic diversions, safety advisories, and project milestones.

Reflecting on the project's timing, Harrison praised President John Dramani Mahama's emphasis on road infrastructure under the Big Push agenda and commended Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson and Roads and Highways Minister Kwame Governs Agbodza for their support and leadership. He thanked the Ghana Highway Authority, GIIF, contractor Maripoma Enterprise Limited, and consultants Associated Consultants for their roles, expressing confidence that the completed project would restore the motorway's historical significance as a modern, safe, and well-managed expressway, showcasing Ghana's ability to deliver sustainable infrastructure through partnerships.