Accra: The Ministry of Roads and Highways has announced the establishment of a special purpose vehicle (SPV) under the Ghana Infrastructure Fund to finance and manage the proposed Accra-Kumasi Expressway. The Minister of Roads and Highways, Kwame Governs Agbodza, explained that the expressway will operate as a user-pay road, meaning motorists will pay tolls to use it.
According to Ghana Web, the project is designed to provide a faster alternative to the existing Accra-Kumasi highway. It is expected to cut travel time between Accra and Kumasi from about six hours to approximately two and a half hours. Speaking in an interview with GTV, Agbodza said the new road will also reduce the distance between the two cities from roughly 250 kilometres to under 200 kilometres.
Motorists who prefer not to pay tolls will still have the option of using the existing highway. The minister noted that the project will be developed under a 50-year concession arrangement, with funding recovered through toll revenues and other sources. He stressed that the government is not providing the road as a free service and that the investment must be repaid over time.
To modernise toll collection, the government is finalising the selection of a national operator to implement a cashless tolling system powered by information technology and artificial intelligence. The system will eliminate physical toll booths and allow for differentiated charges across various roads. Feasibility studies and design work are currently underway, with construction expected to begin later in 2026. President John Dramani Mahama is scheduled to cut the sod for the project within the year.