President John Dramani Mahama says the journey between Accra and Kumasi could be reduced to about two hours once the proposed expressway is completed. President Mahama made the remarks on Monday, September 14, at Kwaso in the Ashanti Region, where the Ghana Armed Forces officially handed over 175.6 kilometres of cleared right-of-way for the project.
According to the President, the new expressway will stretch 198.7 kilometres and feature six lanes. Unlike the existing Accra-Kumasi Highway, which covers approximately 270 kilometres, the new road will follow a different alignment, reducing the distance between the two cities by nearly 70 kilometres.
President Mahama also highlighted the higher speed limit planned for the expressway. He said motorists will be permitted to travel at speeds of up to 120 kilometres per hour. “When completed, as you were told, the recommended speed on the Expressway will be 120km per hour. You can drive at 120km per hour,” he noted.
He explained that even motorists travelling at an average speed of 100 kilometres per hour could complete the journey in roughly two hours. This would represent a significant reduction from the five to six hours currently required to travel between Accra and Kumasi on the old highway.
“Even if he is travelling at 100km an hour, it means that the journey will take him two hours, instead of the five to six hours that we currently use on the old Accra-Kumasi highway,” President Mahama said.
The President said the shorter travel time would boost economic activity by making it possible for people to conduct business in either city and return home the same day. “And so Nana, when this Expressway is finished, you can leave Kumasi at 6 am, and you’ll be in Accra by 8am,” he stated.
He further explained that the expressway would have three lanes in each direction, with vehicles expected to use the lanes according to their speed. Slower-moving vehicles would keep to the outer lane, while faster vehicles would use the inner lane.
