The Controller and Accountant-General’s Department (CAGD) has dismissed claims circulating on social media that the government has spent nearly GH¢11 billion on the Accra-Kumasi Expressway despite construction works not yet commencing.

In a statement, the Department explained that the claims are based on a misunderstanding of government accounting procedures and do not reflect actual expenditure on the project.

The CAGD said the Accra-Kumasi Expressway is a major infrastructure initiative of the government and that measures were taken to ensure it avoids the funding delays, cost overruns, and implementation challenges associated with similar projects.

According to the Department, the government, through the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund (GIIF), established the Accra-Kumasi Expressway Limited as a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) to oversee the project. The company is classified as a State-Owned Enterprise (SOE) for funding and accounting purposes.

It explained that following parliamentary approval of the concession agreement, funds from the Annual Budget Funding Amount (ABFA) and mineral royalties were allocated in the 2025 Budget to support the project.

The approved funds were subsequently transferred from the Consolidated Fund into a dedicated Bank of Ghana account.

However, the CAGD stressed that the money has not been paid to any contractor and has not been used for construction activities. The funds remain secured in the dedicated account awaiting the commencement of project execution.

The Department also clarified that the ongoing right-of-way clearing exercise being undertaken by the Ghana Armed Forces is a separate preparatory activity and is not being funded from the allocated project funds.

The CAGD further explained that under Ghana’s public accounting system, government operates through three main levels: Central Government, which includes Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs); Local Government, made up of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs); and Government Business Entities, including State-Owned Enterprises such as Accra-Kumasi Expressway Limited.

It noted that when funds are transferred from the Consolidated Fund to government entities outside the Central Government accounting group, the transaction is recorded as grant expenditure in the accounts of Central Government and as grant revenue in the accounts of the receiving institution.

According to the Department, this accounting practice does not mean the receiving entity has spent the money. It said the same treatment applies to transfers made to institutions such as the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF), GETFund, and the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA).

The CAGD therefore cautioned against interpreting accounting records as evidence that construction funds have already been spent on the Accra-Kumasi Expressway.

The Department assured the public that the accounting treatment for the project complies with Ghana’s Public Financial Management framework and established government accounting standards.