The Minority in Parliament has dismissed the government’s plan to construct a new expressway between Accra and Kumasi, describing it as unnecessary.
The caucus said that the funds should instead be channelled into completing the ongoing dualisation of the existing Accra–Kumasi Highway.
Member of Parliament for Okaikwei Central, Patrick Boamah, raised the issue during the debate on the 2026 Budget.
He said the government should “invest in the right sectors of the economy and create the needed jobs this budget is seeking to talk about,” instead of proposing new major road projects.
Mr Boamah pointed to the front cover of the budget, saying it featured “a clear photoshop of a certain express road that the minister spoke about, that he was going to construct an express road to Kumasi.”
He questioned why the government would abandon the existing dualisation project, arguing, “What is the crime of the people of this country… especially from Accra to Paga and to Bawku?
“For eight years, from 2009 to 2016, not a single kilometre of road was added by the NDC government. You come into government again, and instead of you prioritising the completion of the dualisation of the Accra–Kumasi road, you are telling us that you are going to construct an express road. From which funds? It’s a completely misplaced priority.”
“What Ghanaians want to see is the completion of the dualisation project that was started by the Akuffo-Addo administration.”
He added that even the financing model did not make sense.
“How are you going to construct this through a PPP arrangement? And how much are you to charge road users? It’s for you to take that decision,” he said.
However, the Deputy Minister for Roads and Highways, Alhassan Suhuyini, rejected the Minority’s position, insisting the expressway is central to President Mahama’s plans to expand economic productivity.
Explaining the government’s road strategy, the Deputy Roads Minister said, “You cannot reduce poverty without efficient transport. Building roads and port infrastructure is what will lower the cost of food and goods and connect farmers to markets and make Ghanaian businesses competitive.”
He added that several national road corridors had been prioritised in the budget.
“We have prioritised the construction of the Western corridor, Wenchi all the way to Wa; the Eastern corridor that will take the road from Aflao to the Upper East Region; and the Central corridor,” he said.
Mr Suhuyini further disclosed that work on the current Accra–Kumasi dualisation project had progressed significantly.
“The dualisation of the Accra–Kumasi highway has reached about 64% completion. When we came into power, that project was stalled because there was no dedicated funding. It has now been put on the Big Push agenda.”
He said the new expressway, which will feature about eight interchanges, is President Mahama’s headline project under the Big Push agenda.
“These are not just concrete, bitumen, and metals; these are projects that will impact our economy, produce jobs, and create employment,” he said.
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