ELS: MBN360 NEWS
President John Dramani Mahama has commended the Ghana Armed Forces, particularly the Engineer Corps, for completing the clearing and early works for the Accra-Kumasi Expressway one week ahead of schedule.
The President said the Armed Forces completed the 175.6 kilometre clearing exercise from Ablekumah in the Greater Accra Region to Sewuah in the Ashanti Region in 19 weeks instead of the 20 weeks initially given for the task.
Speaking at the official handover ceremony, President Mahama said the project forms part of preparatory works towards the construction of a 198.7 kilometre, six lane expressway connecting Ghana’s two largest cities.
He said, “I’m pleased to announce to the whole country, Ghana, that our armed forces have accomplished this mission one week ahead of schedule. They did it in 19 weeks.”
According to him, the exercise involved clearing a route through virgin forest and crossing rivers and streams, making the achievement by the Ghana Armed Forces significant.
“From Ablekumah in Greater Accra to Sewuah in the Ashanti Region within 19 weeks, 175.6 kilometres of road passing through virgin forest, crossing rivers and streams, our Ghana Armed Forces can today announce to all of us, as they say in military jargon, mission accomplished,” he said.
President Mahama expressed the appreciation of the nation to the Ghana Armed Forces, particularly the Engineer Corps, and announced that the Engineers Regiment would be honoured at the next national honours ceremony to mark Ghana’s 70th anniversary of independence.
He explained that the proposed expressway would significantly reduce the distance between Accra and Kumasi, noting that the existing Accra-Kumasi Highway covers about 270 kilometres, compared to the 198.7 kilometer expressway.
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“When completed, as you were told, the recommended speed on the expressway will be 130 kilometers per hour,” President Mahama said.
He added that travelling at an average speed of 100 kilometers per hour would reduce the journey between Accra and Kumasi to about two hours, compared to the current five to six hours on the old highway. The President said the expressway would also feature two toll interchanges, eight interchanges, four rest stops, tow trucks and CCTV cameras to improve safety and convenience for motorists.
He noted that the project would operate under a special purpose vehicle known as the Accra-Kumasi Expressway Limited, registered under the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund (GIIF), with a management team and governing board responsible for overseeing the road.
President Mahama stressed the importance of the project to Ghana’s economic development, saying efficient transportation corridors are essential for the movement of people and goods and for stimulating economic activity.
“Roads and transport routes open up countries and play a very significant role in stimulating economic development,” he said.
President Mahama also linked the project to the vision of Ghana’s first President, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, who constructed the motorway connecting Accra to Tema as part of efforts to support industrial and economic development.
He said the Accra-Kumasi Expressway was long overdue, describing Accra and Kumasi as Ghana’s two largest cities and major centres of commercial and economic activity.
The President expressed hope that the project would mark the beginning of a new era in Ghana’s transport infrastructure development and urged future governments to continue and build on the work.
