Ghana: $1.7 billion for the Accra-Kumasi highway, 175.6 km cleared
Engineers from the Ghanaian armed forces have completed the clearing of 175.6 kilometers for the future Accra-Kumasi highway, which will connect the country’s two main cities. The official handover of the corridor to the government is scheduled for Monday, September 14, in Kwaso, near Ejisu, under the presidency of John Dramani Mahama.
The project involves a modern six-lane highway announced over a length of 198.7 kilometers. In its 2026 budget, the Ghanaian government states that the new route will reduce the distance between Accra and Kumasi from approximately 250 to 198.7 kilometers.
Financing is one of the most advanced aspects of the project. Finance Minister Cassiel Ato Forson announced in Parliament that $1.7 billion had been deposited as of July 22 into a dedicated account at the Bank of Ghana. These funds are earmarked for the project and will be utilized following the awarding of the main construction contract.
The clearing of the corridor was completed in 19 weeks, one week ahead of the initial 20-week schedule. Military engineering teams worked on a corridor traversing areas of dense vegetation and challenging terrain, according to information released after the operations were completed.
A central component of the Big Push program
The Accra-Kumasi highway is among the key projects of the Big Push infrastructure program. Ghana’s 2026 budget presents this link as the country’s first modern two-way Class A six-lane highway and anticipates a nearly 40% reduction in transportation costs along the corridor.
Official projections also estimate a halving of travel time between Accra and Kumasi and the creation of over 30,000 direct and indirect jobs during the construction phase. These estimates are included in the budget document presented to Parliament.
The project will feature eight major interchanges, three major bridges over the Birim and Pra rivers, four service areas, and two large toll stations equipped with automated systems. The government announced in July that feasibility studies and detailed engineering studies were to be finalized before the launch of the main contract procurement process.
The planned route will connect the capital to the Ashanti region, passing through the Greater Accra and Eastern regions, along a new alignment distinct from the current road axis.
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