Tue, 15 Sep 2026 Feature Article

Accra–Kumasi Expressway Will Lay Foundation for North–South Connectivity — Ato Forson

Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson says the Accra–Kumasi Expressway forms part of a broader national infrastructure vision aimed at connecting southern and northern Ghana and supporting economic transformation.

Speaking on Ahenfie FM in Kumasi on Monday, September 14, 2026, he explained that the government views the expressway as the foundation of a transport corridor that would eventually extend to Tamale.

The initial phase will connect Accra and Kumasi, followed by the proposed Kumasi Outer Ring Road, also known as the Kumasi Orbital Road, before the corridor continues northwards.

“The Expressway is beyond Kumasi. It is building a country,” Dr. Forson said. He argued that Ghana needed to make greater progress in developing major national road infrastructure, citing the Accra–Tema Motorway built under Dr. Kwame Nkrumah as an enduring reference point. 3

Preparatory work has included the clearance of 175.6 kilometres of right-of-way by engineers of the Ghana Armed Forces. The planned expressway will span approximately 198.7 kilometres, according to a government statement announcing the handover of the cleared corridor.

The government’s specifications provide for approximately 176 kilometres of new six-lane dual carriageway, alongside about 23 kilometres of upgraded connector roads. Planned infrastructure includes interchanges, vehicle overpasses, bridges, culverts and service areas.

Project estimates suggest the expressway could shorten the Accra–Kumasi route by approximately 50 kilometres, reduce travel time from about six hours to two hours and lower travel costs by around 40 per cent. These benefits remain projections pending completion and operation of the road.

On financing, Dr. Forson previously told Parliament that US$1.7 billion had been deposited into a dedicated account at the Bank of Ghana and reserved for the project. In a further assurance on September 14, he said the full construction funding would be available by December 2026 through domestic financing, without borrowing.

For the Finance Minister, the project’s significance extends beyond faster travel between Ghana’s two largest cities. Its wider purpose is to establish a connected national road network capable of supporting trade, investment and development across the country.

This Author has published 223 articles on modernghana.com. More I am a Ghanaian business leader, entrepreneur, industrial development professional, researcher and author with over two decades of experience in senior executive and technical roles.

I currently serve as the Chief Executive Officer of Tata Beverages Company Limited and Tata Industrial Company Limited, where I provide strategic leadership in manufacturing, product development, business growth and the promotion of locally manufactured products.

My professional experience spans a broad range of industries, including beverage and brewing, soap manufacturing, water treatment, paint and ink production, agriculture and agro-processing, food processing, technology and industrial manufacturing.

Beyond Ghana, I have provided consultancy and technical advisory services to start-ups and emerging businesses in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Burkina Faso and Nigeria. Through these engagements, I have supported entrepreneurs and businesses in product development, manufacturing processes, equipment selection, quality improvement and the establishment of sustainable production operations.

I am a strong advocate for Made-in-Ghana products, entrepreneurship, industrialisation, local value addition and the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). I firmly believe that Ghana and Africa's long-term economic transformation will depend on our ability to produce more of what we consume, add value to our locally available resources and build competitive industries that create sustainable employment.

My interests extend beyond manufacturing to agriculture, food security, STEM education, innovation, healthcare, entrepreneurship and national development. I am particularly passionate about practical solutions that can strengthen local industries, create opportunities for young people and reduce Africa's excessive dependence on imports.

As an author and contributor to ModernGhana, I regularly write on business, manufacturing, agriculture, entrepreneurship, economic development and other issues of national and continental importance. Through my writing, I seek to stimulate constructive public discussion, challenge conventional thinking and advocate practical solutions to Ghana's development challenges.

I have also undertaken and published research in areas related to manufacturing, food processing, innovation, local raw-material utilisation and sustainable industrial development. My research interests are driven by the belief that Africa possesses enormous resources that can be transformed through research, technology, entrepreneurship and industrialisation.

Throughout my professional journey, I have remained committed to promoting local manufacturing, entrepreneurship and African industrial development.

My philosophy is simple:

“Africa must produce more of what it consumes, process more of what it produces, and build competitive businesses capable of creating jobs and competing globally.”Column: Frank Ayim Damptey

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