KWASO, Ghana, 14th September: President John Dramani Mahama has promised to return to Kwaso in the Ashanti Region before Christmas to officially break ground for the construction of the long-awaited Accra-Kumasi Expressway.
The President made the commitment during a ceremony marking the completion of the Ghana Armed Forces’ 175.6-kilometre right-of-way clearance for the project.
President Mahama said the government is moving swiftly to select a contractor after opening the process to companies interested in undertaking the project.
He explained that an expression of interest had already been advertised and companies had been given four weeks to submit their proposals.
This, he said, would be followed by pre-qualification and an expedited contractor-selection process.
“It is my expectation that we will return here and we should come back here. And we will return here before the end of the year and come and cut the sword for work on the Accra-Kumasi Expressway to start,” the President said.
He later reiterated the commitment, telling the chiefs and people gathered at Kwaso that the groundbreaking ceremony would take place before Christmas.
“As I have said, we will be back here before Christmas, before we celebrate Christmas. That will be the special Christmas present for Nananom and this nation,” he said.
President Mahama said the proposed expressway was a project that had been delayed for too long, arguing that Accra and Kumasi, Ghana’s two largest cities and major centres of economic activity, deserved a modern transport connection.
He described it as a major step towards opening up the country and improving the movement of passengers and goods.
The 198.7-kilometre project is expected to be constructed as a six-lane expressway, with a recommended speed of 120 kilometres per hour.
It will also feature eight interchanges, four rest stops, two toll interchanges, CCTV cameras and emergency facilities to quickly remove broken-down vehicles.
President Mahama said the expressway would reduce the travel distance between Accra and Kumasi by almost 70 kilometres compared with the existing 270-kilometre highway.
He further said the government had secured $2 billion for the project, with the funds already being held in a special account at the Bank of Ghana.
According to the President, the financing is expected to ensure that payment delays do not stall construction.
The Ghana Armed Forces have already completed the clearing of the right-of-way from Ablekuma in Greater Accra to Sewua in the Ashanti Region, completing the assignment one week ahead of its 20-week deadline.
Story by: Emmanuel Romeo Tetteh(#RomeoWrites✍️)/ Presidential Affairs Correspondent | Ghana 🇬🇭
