During the presentation of the 2026 budget statement in Parliament last Friday, the Minister for Finance, Cassiel Ato Forson, announced that President John Dramani Mahama has taken a firm decision to construct a six-lane expressway, linking Accra and Kumasi, Ghana’s two largest cities.
Although the minister did not disclose the cost of this mega project, he indicated that it would take three years to complete. Even though actual construction is yet to begin, the announcement alone has excited many Ghanaians. Despite Ghana’s status as a lower middle-income country, its road network remains nothing to write home about.
Until last year, the Accra–Tema Motorway, one of the nation’s key economic corridors, was in a deplorable state. Protruding iron rods from broken concrete slabs damaged countless vehicle tyres, yet the situation was left unattended for years.
Beyond the motorway, the Accra–Kumasi road and several other major highways were allowed to deteriorate. Instead of raising the funds needed to reconstruct these roads, successive governments largely paid lip service to the problem.
However, over the past month, The Chronicle has observed that the Mahama administration appears determined to break from that pattern and confront the road sector challenges head-on.
As we prepare this editorial, the ground has already been broken for construction to begin on the stretch from the Adomi Bridge in the Eastern Region, through Asikuma Junction to Ho, the Volta Regional capital. Similar work has commenced on the Ho–Aflao road, which passes through Kpetoe, Ave-Dakpa, Dzodze and surrounding communities.
President Mahama has also cut the sod for the dualisation of the Cape Coast–Takoradi road, which despite carrying heavy vehicular traffic has remained a single lane for decades. Just last week, the President performed the necessary rites for construction to begin on the Wenchi–Wa and Wa–Bolgatanga roads as well.
As the President remarked during the ceremony in Ho, Ghana has effectively become a construction zone. Beyond the projects mentioned above, which are part of the broader Big Push programme, work is ongoing on other major road corridors including Accra–Nsawam, Tema–Dawhenya, Kasoa–Winneba Junction and several others. The icing on the cake is the newly announced Accra–Kumasi Expressway project.
If the Mahama government completes these projects, it will undoubtedly be remembered as one of the most impactful administrations in Ghana’s road infrastructure history. Nevertheless, The Chronicle urges President Mahama and his technical team to incorporate streetlights and security cameras into the design of the Accra–Kumasi expressway.
This suggestion is crucial because, according to the finance minister’s announcement, the expressway will cut through forested areas. A poorly lit road of this magnitude will not serve the national interest. Given the persistent threat of armed robbery on major highways, adequate lighting and surveillance cameras would not only help deter crime, but also support security agencies in investigating road crashes and criminal incidents.
Considering the nation’s long-standing maintenance challenges, The Chronicle further recommends establishing a dedicated funding source to ensure that lights and cameras on the expressway remain functional all year round. Upon completion, this expressway will become the primary route connecting Accra to the northern corridor and neighbouring regions.
Ghanaians, therefore, may not object if, for instance, a five-pesewa levy is added to every litre of fuel purchased to support the maintenance of lights and security systems on the expressway. President Mahama has acknowledged that this is his legacy term.
He would certainly not want a major project such as this expressway to begin deteriorating just a few years after he leaves office. If Dr Kwame Nkrumah were alive today, he would be disappointed to witness the state of his legacy, Accra–Tema Motorway, after decades of neglect.
Some may argue that the Road Fund exists and, therefore, there is no need for an additional levy to maintain the expressway. While The Chronicle appreciates this argument, the reality remains that the Road Fund is responsible for maintaining roads across the entire country. Relying solely on it will not be adequate to keep the new expressway in optimal condition. We shall return.
