The 48 Engineer Regiment of the Ghana Armed Forces is set to take on a major construction role in the Accra-Kumasi Expressway project after President John Dramani Mahama announced that the military engineering unit will serve as a major sub-contractor.
The announcement comes after the Regiment successfully completed the clearance of about 175.6 kilometres of the project’s right-of-way in 19 weeks, beating the original 20-week deadline.
President Mahama made the announcement on Monday, September 14, 2026, during the formal handover of the cleared corridor at Ejisu-Kwaso in the Ashanti Region.
Beyond the expressway, the President has also directed the 48 Engineer Regiment to begin preparations to clear the right-of-way for the proposed New Accra Orbital.
The expanded role gives the military engineers a direct stake in the next phase of one of government’s flagship infrastructure projects under the Big Push programme.
The proposed Accra-Kumasi Expressway is a 198.7-kilometre, six-lane dual carriageway expected to improve connectivity between Greater Accra, the Eastern Region and Kumasi, while reducing travel time and easing the movement of goods and people.
Mahama also disclosed that $2 billion is currently sitting in a special account earmarked for the commencement of the project.
“President Mahama says there is currently $2 billion in a special account for the commencement of the Accra-Kumasi Expressway.
“By close of year, there will be $4 billion in the account to fully finance the project.”
Meanwhile, Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson has also ruled out borrowing to finance the project.
“For the avoidance of doubt, not a single pesewa will be borrowed for this project.”
Roads and Highways Minister Kwame Governs Agbodza has described the expressway as a major generational intervention, stressing its significance to Ghana’s infrastructure development.
“Accra-Kumasi Expressway is our generational intervention. We are going to be 70 years. The President’s vision is that we should do something so that the generations ahead of us will say that when we were also here, we did something remarkable.”
