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President John Dramani Mahama has strongly defended plans to construct the Accra–Kumasi Expressway, arguing that the severe traffic congestion experienced over the New Year period underscores the urgent need for the project.
His comments follow widespread public frustration after motorists and passengers were stranded for between 12 and 24 hours on portions of the Accra–Kumasi highway between December 31, 2025, and January 1, 2026.
The traffic gridlock affected several communities, including Juaso, Asankari, and Dwaso, and was attributed to large-scale church conventions that attracted thousands of worshippers from across the country.
Although the Ministry of Roads and Highways described the congestion as a one-off incident, President Mahama insists the situation reveals deeper structural challenges and highlights the limitations of the existing road network connecting Ghana’s two largest cities.
Speaking at the Annual New Year School Conference in Accra on Tuesday, January 6, President Mahama said critics of the proposed expressway would better appreciate its importance if they had experienced the traffic chaos during the festive season.
According to him, a single church convention was enough to bring traffic on the Accra–Kumasi road to a standstill for more than seven hours, demonstrating how overstretched the current highway has become.
President Mahama described it as unacceptable that Accra, the nation’s capital and largest city, and Kumasi, the second-largest city and a major commercial hub, are largely connected by a single-lane highway. He warned that the situation continues to impede movement, trade, and overall national development.
He assured Ghanaians that relief is in sight, disclosing that preparations are underway to cut the sod for the construction of the Accra–Kumasi Expressway early this year.
“One of the iconic projects under our Big Push agenda is the Accra–Kumasi Expressway. For those who have spoken against this expressway, I wish they were in the traffic jam over the New Year when a single church convention brought the road into gridlock for more than seven hours,” the President said.
“Accra is the biggest city in Ghana and the capital. Kumasi is the next biggest city, and it is a shame that we still have a single-lane road linking our two major cities. This will soon be a thing of the past,” he added.
