President John Dramani Mahama has mounted a firm defence of his government’s proposal to construct a modern expressway linking Accra and Kumasi, arguing that the severe traffic chaos witnessed during the 2025/2026 New Year period is clear evidence that the existing road infrastructure is no longer fit for purpose.
His remarks follow days of public outrage after thousands of motorists and passengers were trapped in traffic for periods ranging from half a day to nearly 24 hours on stretches of the Accra–Kumasi highway between December 31, 2025, and January 1, 2026. Many travellers reported spending the night in their vehicles, with little access to food, water, or sanitation.
The congestion was most intense around communities such as Juaso, Asankari, and Dwaso, where traffic came to a near standstill. Authorities later attributed the gridlock to massive church conventions held along the corridor, which attracted worshippers from all parts of the country and overwhelmed the narrow road network.
While the Ministry of Roads and Highways described the situation as an isolated incident caused by extraordinary circumstances, President Mahama disagreed, insisting that the episode revealed long-standing structural weaknesses in the country’s transport system—particularly on the vital route connecting Ghana’s two largest cities.
Addressing participants at the annual New Year School conference in Accra on Tuesday, January 6, as part of discussions on his administration’s flagship “Big Push” infrastructure programme, the President said the New Year traffic ordeal should put to rest any doubts about the relevance of the Accra–Kumasi Expressway.
According to him, it was alarming that a single large religious gathering could paralyse movement on such a critical national highway for more than seven hours, highlighting how vulnerable the current road is to disruptions.
Mahama noted that Accra, Ghana’s capital and largest commercial centre, and Kumasi, the second-largest city and a major hub for trade and culture, play a central role in the national economy. He described it as unacceptable that economic activity between these two cities continues to rely largely on a narrow, overstretched highway.
He warned that the limitations of the existing road not only frustrate commuters but also slow down commerce, increase transport costs, and undermine broader development efforts.
The President assured the public that plans for the expressway are progressing steadily and announced that government is preparing to officially commence construction in the coming months.
He reiterated that once completed, the Accra–Kumasi Expressway would transform travel between the two cities, reduce travel time significantly, and prevent a repeat of the kind of congestion experienced over the New Year period.
Mahama expressed optimism that the sod-cutting ceremony for the project would take place early this year, marking what he described as the beginning of the end of decades of traffic challenges on Ghana’s most important highway.
Story by Freedom Etsey Lavoe/Ahotoronline.com.