$2 billion secured for Accra-Kumasi Expressway – Mahama

President John Dramani Mahama has announced that US$2 billion has been secured to finance the construction of the Accra-Kumasi Expressway.

According to the President, the funds are already available in a special account at the Bank of Ghana, ensuring that financing will not delay the implementation of the major road project.

President Mahama made the announcement on Monday, September 14, 2026, during the official handover of the cleared Right-of-Way for the Accra-Kumasi Expressway at Kwaso, near Ejisu in the Ashanti Region.

He said the government had deliberately secured the financing from domestic resources rather than relying on external borrowing.

“Let me announce that the Minister of Finance has put aside two billion dollars for financing this Accra-Kumasi Expressway. The money is ready. It is sitting in a special account at the Bank of Ghana,” President Mahama said.

He assured prospective contractors that once construction begins, certified payments would be made promptly.

“So when this project starts, money is not going to be the problem. All certificates presented by the contractor will be paid instantly and so there will be no problem with that,” he added.

‘We have not gone to borrow’

President Mahama stressed that the US$2 billion constitutes Ghana’s own resources and was not raised through external borrowing.

“This is our own money. We have not gone to borrow money from anywhere. This money is the money of the taxpayers of Ghana,” he said.

He added that the Finance Minister had assured him that the full financing required for the completion of the project would be available by the end of 2026.

“So far, two billion is in the account. By the end of the year, we’ll have the full amount for the completion of the Accra-Kumasi Expressway,” he said.

Construction expected before Christmas

The President also expressed confidence that construction of the expressway would commence before Christmas.

He said the government had already advertised an Expression of Interest for companies interested in undertaking the construction and would proceed with pre-qualification before selecting the contractor.

“It is my expectation that we will return here before the end of the year and come and cut the sod for work on the Accra-Kumasi Expressway to start,” President Mahama said.

He later reiterated that the groundbreaking ceremony would take place before Christmas, describing it as a special Christmas present for traditional leaders and the people of Ghana.

198.7km six-lane expressway

The Accra-Kumasi Expressway is planned as a 198.7-kilometre, six-lane highway connecting Ghana’s two largest cities.

President Mahama said the project would significantly reduce the distance and travel time between Accra and Kumasi.

He noted that the existing Accra-Kumasi Highway covers about 270 kilometres, meaning the new expressway would cut almost 70 kilometres from the journey.

According to him, motorists travelling at an average speed of 100 kilometres per hour could complete the journey in about two hours, compared with the current five to six hours required on the existing highway.

The expressway will also feature eight interchanges, four rest stops, tow trucks and CCTV cameras to improve safety and convenience for motorists.

President Mahama said the project is part of his broader vision to develop efficient transportation corridors capable of facilitating the movement of people and goods and stimulating economic growth across Ghana.