A member of Parliament’s Roads and Transport Committee, Francis Asenso-Boakye, has cast doubt on the government’s announced timeline for constructing a new six-lane expressway between Accra and Kumasi.
The Bantama MP’s concerns follow remarks by Roads and Highways Minister, Governs Kwame Agbodza, who told the Citi Breakfast Show on July 31 that construction of the highway will begin next year and be completed before the current government’s term ends.
Minister Agbodza explained that while the existing Accra–Kumasi highway is undergoing dualisation, its passage through densely populated communities limits its long-term efficiency. He said the proposed expressway is part of a broader plan to create a modern, high-speed corridor between Ghana’s two largest cities, bypassing existing settlements.
But in a statement issued on Monday, August 4, Hon. Asenso-Boakye questioned the feasibility of the Minister’s timeline, pointing out that the Roads Ministry is still in the process of hiring a consultant to conduct a feasibility study for the project.
“I was particularly struck by the Roads Minister’s own admission that the Ministry is in the process of hiring a consultant to undertake the feasibility study,” he stated. “This suggests that there is no final design, cost estimate, or secured funding for the proposed expressway. Yet, Your Excellency stated publicly that construction will begin next year and be completed before your term ends—a timeline of less than three years.”
The former Minister for Roads and Highways warned that setting fixed timelines before completing critical preparatory work—such as feasibility studies, environmental assessments, and securing financing—could undermine public confidence in government-led infrastructure projects.
“With the greatest of respect, Mr. President, such pronouncements, made ahead of critical project milestones like feasibility, costing, environmental clearance, and financing, risk undermining our credibility in infrastructure planning and public investment management,” he cautioned.
The proposed Accra–Kumasi expressway is expected to significantly cut travel time and reduce congestion on the current route. However, uncertainties surrounding its design, funding, and implementation schedule have sparked renewed public debate over the project’s viability.