President John Dramani Mahama has said the proposed Accra–Kumasi Expressway could reduce travel time between Ghana’s two largest cities to about two hours once completed.
Speaking at Kwaso in the Ashanti Region on September 14, 2026, during the handover of 175.6 kilometres of cleared right-of-way for the project, President Mahama used a practical example to illustrate the potential impact of the planned expressway.
“When this Expressway is finished, you can leave Kumasi at 6am and you’ll be in Accra by 8am.”
The proposed expressway is expected to cover approximately 198.7 kilometres and have six lanes, with three lanes in each direction. It is planned along a different alignment from the existing approximately 270-kilometre Accra–Kumasi Highway.
President Mahama said the recommended speed on the completed expressway would be 120 km/h and explained that travelling at around 100 km/h could allow motorists to make the journey in approximately two hours.
The project forms part of the government’s Big Push infrastructure programme. The Ghana Armed Forces completed the right-of-way clearing exercise over 19 weeks, one week ahead of the original 20-week schedule.
President Mahama said government had set aside US$2 billion to finance the project through locally generated funds, with the money reportedly held in a special account at the Bank of Ghana. He also indicated that government intends to begin the main construction phase before the end of 2026.
The Value for Money Office is expected to scrutinise the project as part of efforts to monitor the use of public funds.
GhanaMedia Verification
VERDICT: VERIFIED — THE QUOTE AND PROJECT DETAILS ARE CORROBORATED.
The viral graphic’s central quote, “Leave Kumasi at 6am, reach Accra by 8am,” accurately reflects remarks attributed to President Mahama at the September 14 ceremony.
However, the two-hour journey is a projected travel time for the completed expressway, not the current travel time between Accra and Kumasi. The expressway is not yet complete.
The graphic’s wording that Mahama “unveils” the project is also somewhat imprecise. The Accra–Kumasi Expressway had previously been announced as part of the government’s infrastructure programme, while the September 14 event marked a major preparatory milestone involving the handover of the cleared right-of-way.
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