Accra-Kumasi Expressway Offers Alternative Route
Parliament has approved the concession agreement for the Accra–Kumasi Expressway, with Roads and Highways Minister, Governs Kwame Agbodza, assuring lawmakers the new road will run alongside the existing highway, not replace it.
The Minister made the clarification during debates on the agreement, emphasizing the project’s adherence to both ECOWAS and African Union transport protocols. These protocols permit tolling on expressways, but crucially, require a viable, toll-free alternative for commuters.
“The ECOWAS and AU protocol says that when you build an expressway, you are allowed to charge a certain level of toll to recover the cost. But you must have an alternative that if somebody wants to go to Kumasi in six hours, he will also have the alternative,” Mr Agbodza stated.
He reiterated that the present Accra–Kumasi road will continue to operate, offering motorists a choice based on their preferences and budget. “The current Accra–Kumasi highway will remain operational,” he affirmed.
Mr. Agbodza highlighted the sheer importance of the Accra-Kumasi corridor. “There’s no road in Ghana that is more important than the road between Accra and Kumasi,” he said, labelling the expressway a substantial long-term investment in Ghana’s progress.
The planned expressway, a six-lane dual carriageway, is projected to boost road safety, diminish travel durations, and considerably improve the efficiency of transportation between Accra and Kumasi. “Indeed, we are doing something that we’ll be proud of maybe in five years,” the Minister added.
Image Source: MYJOYONLINE
