Accra-Kumasi Expressway: GAF completes 175.6km right-of-way clearance , hands over to gov’t

The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) has completed the clearing of the Right-of-Way for the Accra-Kumasi Expressway and formally handed over the cleared corridor to the Government of Ghana.

The achievement marks a major step towards the construction of the planned 198.7-kilometre, six-lane expressway, which is expected to improve connectivity between Ghana’s two largest cities.

The Engineers Regiment of the Ghana Armed Forces cleared 175.6 kilometres of the project corridor, stretching from Ablekuma in the Greater Accra Region to Sewua in the Ashanti Region.

The exercise, which involved difficult terrain, forests, rivers and streams, was completed in 19 weeks—one week ahead of the 20-week deadline set by President John Dramani Mahama.

President Mahama received the handover on Monday, September 14, 2026, at Kwaso near Ejisu in the Ashanti Region.

He praised the military engineers for completing what he described as a demanding national assignment ahead of schedule.

“Within 19 weeks, 175.6 kilometres of road passing through virgin forests, crossing rivers and streams, our Ghana Armed Forces can today announce to all of us, as they say in military jargon, mission accomplished,” the President said.

GAF to support construction

Following the successful completion of the Right-of-Way clearance, President Mahama said the Engineers Regiment would be given a further role in the actual construction of the expressway.

He directed the Minister of Roads and Highways to incorporate the Engineers Regiment as a major subcontractor to the main contractor for the project.

President Mahama said the decision was justified by the military’s expertise and its successful mobilisation for the preparatory works.

He also tasked the Armed Forces with clearing the Right-of-Way for the proposed Greater Accra Orbital Road.

The military is further expected to assist with the installation of steel bridges at locations across the country.

“I’ve asked the Minister of Roads and Highways to identify all the sites that need steel bridges, and I’ve asked him to involve the Ghana Armed Forces to install these steel bridges across the length and breadth of this country,” President Mahama said.

National honour for Engineers Regiment

President Mahama announced that the Engineers Regiment would be recognised for its achievement at the next National Honours ceremony.

He said the ceremony, which is expected to form part of activities marking Ghana’s 70th anniversary of independence, would see the Engineers Regiment receive the Order of the Companion of the Volta.

The President said the honour was intended to reflect the nation’s appreciation for the military’s contribution to the project.

He also expressed confidence in the capacity of the Ghana Armed Forces to contribute to Ghana’s infrastructure development.

“The Ghana Armed Forces are capable and I have absolute trust in their ability to help this country in its infrastructure development,” he said.

Construction expected before Christmas

With the Right-of-Way now cleared, President Mahama said the government expects construction of the expressway to commence before Christmas 2026.

The government has already opened the process for selecting a contractor through an Expression of Interest, with pre-qualification and contractor selection expected to follow.

The President also announced that US$2 billion had been set aside to finance the project, with the funds held in a special account at the Bank of Ghana.

He said the funding would ensure that payment would not become a constraint once construction begins.

The completed expressway is expected to reduce travel time between Accra and Kumasi significantly, with President Mahama projecting that motorists could make the journey in about two hours at an average speed of 100 kilometres per hour.

The project will include eight interchanges, four rest stops, tow trucks and CCTV cameras, forming part of the government’s broader vision to develop modern transport corridors across Ghana.