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Accra, Ghana — September 14, 2026: President John Dramani Mahama has announced that construction of Ghana’s long-awaited 198.7-kilometre Accra-Kumasi Expressway is expected to begin before Christmas 2026.
The President made the announcement on Monday, September 14, at Kwaso near Ejisu, during the formal handover of the cleared right-of-way for the project by the Ghana Armed Forces to the government.
According to President Mahama, US$2 billion is already available in a dedicated account at the Bank of Ghana to support the project, with the government expected to mobilise the remaining funds needed to cover the full project cost before the end of 2026.
Importantly, he stressed that the money was not borrowed.
“This is our own money. We have not gone to borrow money from anywhere,” President Mahama said.
He described the funding as money belonging to Ghanaian taxpayers.
Mahama Promises Prompt Payment to Contractors
President Mahama also sought to assure prospective contractors that funding would be available to prevent the delays in payment that have often affected major infrastructure projects in Ghana.
He said once construction begins, government would ensure that certified work is paid for promptly.
“All certificates presented by the contractor will be paid instantly,” he stated.
The President further announced that companies interested in constructing the expressway would have four weeks to submit expressions of interest, after which government would undertake a pre-qualification process before selecting the contractor.
He said the contractor selection would be handled through an accelerated process to allow construction to commence as planned.
A Christmas Sod-Cutting for the Expressway
President Mahama said he intends to return to Kwaso before Christmas to officially cut the sod for the start of construction.
Describing the planned commencement as a major milestone, he called it “a special Christmas present for Nananom and this nation.”
For motorists and businesses that regularly travel between Accra and Kumasi, the project represents the prospect of a major transformation of one of Ghana’s most important transport corridors.
Six-Lane Highway Could Cut Journey to Two Hours
The planned expressway will be constructed as a six-lane highway, with the design separating slower and faster-moving traffic.
President Mahama explained that slower vehicles would use the outer lanes, while faster vehicles would travel on the inner lanes.
The project is expected to dramatically reduce journey times between Accra and Kumasi—from the current five to six hours to approximately two hours, once the expressway is completed.
The infrastructure will also include:
- Two toll interchanges
- Eight interchanges connecting communities along the route
- Four rest stops
- Roadside tow trucks
- CCTV cameras to help monitor traffic and reckless driving
The combination of these facilities is intended to make the highway not only faster, but safer and more efficient for motorists.
Railway Corridor Reserved for the Future
One of the longer-term features of the project is the reservation of space within the expressway corridor for a possible future Accra-Kumasi railway line.
President Mahama said the provision was deliberate and forms part of broader efforts to revive Ghana’s railway infrastructure.
The move could eventually allow road and rail transportation infrastructure to develop alongside each other, providing additional options for passengers and freight movement between Ghana’s two major economic centres.
Ghana Armed Forces Complete 198.7km Right-of-Way Clearance
A major part of the preparatory work has already been completed by the 48 Engineers Regiment of the Ghana Armed Forces.
The regiment spent 24 weeks clearing the right-of-way across the entire expressway corridor, preparing the land for the next phase of development.
President Mahama praised the military engineers for completing the task and announced that the regiment would be recognised at the next National Honours ceremony marking Ghana’s 70th independence anniversary.
He said the Engineers Regiment would receive the Order of the Companion of the Volta in recognition of its contribution.
Military to Take on Bigger Infrastructure Role
President Mahama also announced plans to expand the role of the Ghana Armed Forces in national infrastructure development.
He directed the Minister of Roads and Highways to formally incorporate the Engineers Regiment as a major subcontractor on the Accra-Kumasi Expressway project.
The military engineers will also be deployed to assist with the clearance of the right-of-way for the Greater Accra Ring Road.
Beyond road construction, the President tasked the Armed Forces with supporting the installation of steel bridges across rivers and streams in various parts of the country.
The move signals a broader government strategy to use the technical capacity of the military to support major infrastructure projects.
Accra-Kumasi Expressway Part of Bigger National Network
The Accra-Kumasi Expressway is being positioned as part of a much larger vision for Ghana’s road network.
President Mahama outlined plans for an expressway system stretching from Aflao in the east to Elubo in the west, while also highlighting planned and ongoing developments along the country’s Eastern and Western Corridors.
He said work on the Eastern Corridor is expected to be completed next year.
The Accra-Kumasi project is being managed through Accra Kumasi Expressway Limited, a special purpose vehicle registered under the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund (GIIF).
The company operates with its own chief executive, management team and governing board.
Chiefs and Residents Commended
President Mahama also recognised the contribution of traditional authorities, farmers and residents living along the planned route.
He thanked chiefs and affected communities for releasing land and crops to facilitate the clearing of the expressway corridor.
The acknowledgement comes as government prepares to move from preparatory activities into actual construction—a stage that will require continued cooperation from communities along the route.
African360 Analysis: Is Ghana Finally About to Get Its Accra-Kumasi Expressway?
For decades, the Accra-Kumasi road has been one of Ghana’s most important—and most heavily used—transport corridors.
The economic significance of the route cannot be overstated.
It connects the national capital to Kumasi, Ghana’s second-largest city, while serving communities, traders, farmers, transport operators and businesses across several regions.
A modern six-lane expressway capable of reducing the journey to around two hours could therefore have implications far beyond simply making travel faster.
It could reduce transport costs, improve the movement of goods, strengthen regional commerce and potentially boost tourism and investment along the corridor.
But Ghanaians have heard ambitious infrastructure promises before.
The most important question now is not whether the project sounds impressive. It is whether the financing, procurement and construction process will move from announcement to visible work on the ground.
The President says US$2 billion is already available, that the remaining funds will be raised by the end of 2026, and that contractors will be paid promptly.
If those commitments translate into actual construction before Christmas, the Accra-Kumasi Expressway could become one of the defining infrastructure projects of the Mahama administration.
For millions of road users, however, the real celebration will not be the sod-cutting ceremony.
It will be the day they can drive from Accra to Kumasi in roughly two hours on a completed expressway.
