Accra-Kumasi Expressway to be fully funded without borrowing by end of 2026 – Ato Forson

Finance Minister, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, has assured that government will secure the full funding for the construction of the Accra-Kumasi Expressway by the end of 2026 without borrowing to finance the project.

The assurance comes as engineers of the Ghana Armed Forces near completion of the clearing of the 176-kilometre corridor earmarked for the proposed 6-lane expressway, with only 6 kilometres left to be cleared.

Dr Ato Forson disclosed during the 2026 Mid-Year Fiscal Policy Review that government had already secured US$1.7 billion for the project, with the funds lodged in an account at the Bank of Ghana pending the commencement of construction.

“By the end of this year, the full funding for the transformational Accra-Kumasi Expressway will be ready,” he said.

“This could be the first time funds for a project of this scale have been fully secured before construction begins. For the avoidance of doubt, not a single pesewa will be borrowed for this project.”

The Finance Minister’s statement follows significant progress made by the Ghana Armed Forces in preparing the corridor for construction.

In an update posted on X on Thursday, September 3, the Ghana Armed Forces said its engineers had cleared 170 kilometres of the 176-kilometre stretch, leaving 6 kilometres to be completed as the team advances towards Sawua.

“The finish line is in sight. Out of 176 kilometres of challenging terrain, just 6 KM REMAIN!” the Armed Forces stated.

The military engineering team was deployed to clear the corridor during Dr Ato Forson’s tenure as Acting Minister for Defence. The exercise is aimed at establishing the required right of way and preparing the corridor for the major construction works.

Dr Ato Forson commended the military engineers for their progress, describing their efforts as an important milestone towards the commencement of the project.

“Hearty congratulations to our indefatigable army on a stellar job,” he said.

The latest progress marks a significant improvement from the 89.5 kilometres cleared as of June 25, 2026, representing 50.9% of the total corridor. The entire corridor-clearing exercise was initially scheduled to be completed within 20 weeks.

When completed, the Accra-Kumasi Expressway is expected to significantly improve road connectivity between Ghana’s 2 largest cities by reducing travel time, easing congestion and facilitating the movement of people and goods.

The proposed 6-lane bidirectional expressway is also expected to stimulate economic activity along the Accra-Kumasi corridor.

With 170 kilometres of the route already cleared and government maintaining that no new borrowing will be required to finance the project, attention is now focused on completing the remaining 6 kilometres and moving from preparatory works to actual construction.