The construction of the proposed 198.7-kilometre Accra-Kumasi Expressway has moved a step closer to reality following the completion and handover of the project’s cleared right of way by the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF).

The Ghana Armed Forces, through the 48 Engineers Regiment, cleared a total of 175.6 kilometres of the project corridor, completing the assignment in 19 weeks instead of the scheduled 20 weeks.

The cleared corridor, which runs from Ablekuma in the Greater Accra Region to Sewua in the Ashanti Region, was formally handed over to the government on Monday, September 14, 2026.

President John Dramani Mahama, who received the corridor on behalf of the government, praised the Armed Forces for delivering the assignment ahead of schedule and described the exercise as a critical preparatory stage for the major road project.

“In 20 weeks, I’m pleased to announce to the whole country of Ghana that our armed forces have accomplished this mission. One week ahead of schedule, they did it in 19 weeks,” President Mahama said.

He noted that the exercise was particularly challenging because the engineers had to clear sections of the route through forests while also crossing rivers and streams.

“From Ablekuma in Greater Accra to Sewua in the Ashanti Region, within 19 weeks, 175.6 kilometres of road passing through virgin forests, 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.

The President said the completion of the right-of-way clearance removes a major preparatory hurdle and creates the basis for the next phase of construction of the expressway.

Unlike the existing Accra-Kumasi highway, the proposed expressway will follow a new alignment and is expected to be constructed as a six-lane highway, providing an alternative and faster connection between Accra and Kumasi, Ghana’s two largest cities.

President Mahama also disclosed that an initial US$2 billion has been secured for the commencement of the project, assuring prospective contractors that funding would be available as work progresses.

The government has positioned the expressway as a major infrastructure investment intended to improve connectivity, reduce travel time and support economic activity along one of Ghana’s most important transport corridors.

With the right of way now cleared and handed over, attention is expected to shift to the subsequent construction stages of the Accra-Kumasi Expressway.