'Complete existing Accra-Kumasi Highway works before expressway' — Minority tells gov't

The Minority Caucus in Parliament has urged the government to prioritise the completion of ongoing works on the Accra-Kumasi Highway.

The caucus said while the proposed Accra-Kumasi Expressway is a welcome long-term initiative, immediate attention must be given to the existing highway to address recurring road crashes and save lives.

Its call comes after a devastating multi-vehicle collision on the Kumasi-Accra Highway on Monday, August 3.

The fatal crash that happened at the Birimso Bridge reportedly claimed at least 15 lives.

"This unfortunate incident is yet another painful reminder of the urgent need to address the longstanding safety challenges on the Accra-Kumasi Highway. Far too many lives have been lost on this highway, and the nation cannot continue to accept these recurring tragedies as inevitable," the Minority Caucus said in a statement issued on Tuesday, August 4.

The caucus expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and wished a speedy recovery to those injured in the crash.

It called on the government to urgently complete all outstanding sections of the highway, including existing bypasses and other ongoing projects, arguing that such interventions could immediately improve safety on the road.

The Minority noted that although the government has committed US$1.7 billion for the proposed Accra-Kumasi Expressway project, an estimated US$300 million would be enough to complete ongoing works on the current highway.

"While the long-term vision of constructing an expressway is commendable, the Minority Caucus believes that the immediate priority should be to complete the existing highway that can save lives now," the statement added.

The caucus said accelerating the completion of the outstanding projects should be treated as a matter of national urgency while preparations for the expressway continue.