Asenso-Boakye petitions Mahama to reconsider plans for new Accra-Kumasi expressway

The Honourable Francis Asenso-Boakye, Member of Parliament for Bantama, has requested that President John Mahama reassess his government’s proposal for constructing a new six-lane expressway linking Accra and Kumasi.

As the former Minister for Roads and Highways, Mr. Asenso-Boakye advised that the planned project may compromise the substantial progress achieved in the ongoing dualisation of the same corridor, an initiative he characterized as “technically sound, economically justified, and already yielding results.”

In a letter to the President, Mr. Asenso-Boakye disclosed that over 100 kilometres of the 240-kilometre stretch have been dualised, with a further 46 kilometres currently under construction. This includes key bypasses at Anyinam, Osino, Enyiresi, and Konongo.

The Honourable Member noted that, according to records from the Ministry of Roads and Highways, only 94 kilometres of the project remain to be completed.

To abandon the project at this stage would be both imprudent and unconstitutional, he asserted, citing Article 35(7) of the 1992 Constitution, which mandates successive governments to continue development projects initiated by their predecessors.

The Bantama MP also raised concerns about the feasibility of the proposed expressway, pointing out that the Ministry has yet to secure a consultant for a feasibility study.

Moreover, he observed that there is no final design, cost estimate, or secured funding for the project. Despite this, Your Excellency has publicly stated that construction will begin next year and be completed before your term ends, a timeline of less than three years. With my expertise and experience, I can confidently say that this timeline is not feasible, Mr. Asenso-Boakye stated.

While acknowledging concerns raised by the current Roads Minister over alleged cost overruns in the existing project, Mr. Asenso-Boakye maintained that such challenges are common in major infrastructure works.

“Variations and cost adjustments are inevitable in major infrastructure projects,” he said.

“They can be addressed within existing legal and contractual frameworks without compromising the entire project.” He concluded his letter by urging President Mahama to prioritize fiscal discipline and the national interest.

“This is not about partisanship,” he said. “It is about continuity, value for money, and responsible governance. I respectfully urge you to review the current course and consolidate, rather than disrupt, the gains we have made.”