Mahama names 48 Engineer Regiment as major sub-contractor for Accra-Kumasi Expressway

President John Dramani Mahama has announced that the 48 Engineer Regiment of the Ghana Armed Forces will serve as a major sub-contractor on the construction of the Accra-Kumasi Expressway.

The announcement comes as government moves into the next phase of the ambitious expressway project, following the completion of major right-of-way clearing works by the Ghana Armed Forces.

The 48 Engineer Regiment has already played a key role in preparing the corridor for construction, clearing the right-of-way along the proposed route. The Ghana Armed Forces is scheduled to hand over the cleared 175.6-kilometre right-of-way to government on September 14, 2026.

Military engineers to take on major construction role

President Mahama’s decision to involve the 48 Engineer Regiment more directly in the project builds on the government’s earlier plans to leverage the technical capabilities of the Ghana Armed Forces in major infrastructure projects.

In January, President Mahama announced that the 48 Engineer Regiment would participate in the government’s Big Push road projects, with the aim of using the military’s engineering capacity while also generating internally generated funds for the Armed Forces.

The regiment’s involvement in the Accra-Kumasi Expressway therefore goes beyond the initial right-of-way clearance and places the military engineering unit in a significant role in the implementation of the flagship road project.

Mahama orders preparation for New Accra Orbital

President Mahama has also directed the 48 Engineer Regiment to begin preparations to clear the right-of-way for the proposed New Accra Orbital.

The directive signals government’s intention to use the technical capacity of the Ghana Armed Forces in preparing major road corridors for construction.

Accra-Kumasi Expressway moves closer to construction

The development comes shortly after government secured significant financing for the expressway.

The government announced in July that US$1.7 billion had been deposited into a dedicated Accra-Kumasi Expressway account at the Bank of Ghana, with the funds ring-fenced for the project and to be used after the main construction contract is awarded.

The proposed expressway is approximately 198.7 kilometres long and is planned as a six-lane, access-controlled road linking Ghana’s two major economic centres.

Government has described the project as a flagship component of the Big Push Infrastructure Programme, expected to reduce travel time, improve road safety, ease congestion and lower transportation costs.

Right-of-way clearance completed

The Ghana Armed Forces has been heavily involved in clearing the corridor ahead of construction.

Earlier in the year, military engineers were deployed along the route to clear the designated right-of-way. By July, government reported that the Armed Forces had cleared 122 kilometres, representing about 70 percent of the designated right-of-way.

The latest handover of the 175.6-kilometre cleared corridor represents a major milestone in preparing the project for the construction phase.

With the military engineers now expected to play a larger role, attention will turn to how quickly the project moves from preparatory works into full-scale construction.

A major test for the Big Push

The Accra-Kumasi Expressway is one of the most closely watched projects under President Mahama’s Big Push programme.

Government has repeatedly emphasised the need for stronger local participation and value for money in the implementation of major infrastructure projects.

The decision to make the 48 Engineer Regiment a major sub-contractor could therefore mark a significant expansion of the Ghana Armed Forces’ role in the country’s infrastructure development.

The project is now entering a crucial stage, with government expected to proceed with the main construction process after the necessary preparatory and procurement requirements are completed.