The Ofankor-Nsawam road dualisation project, a vital section of the Accra-Kumasi Highway, is 77 per cent complete.
The 33.4-kilometre portion of the National Road Six (N6) has been reassigned under the government’s flagship "Big Push" infrastructure initiative.
President John Dramani Mahama yesterday conducted a working inspection of the project.
Accompanied by the Minister of Roads and Highways, Kwame Governs Agbodza, and other ministry officials, the President assessed the progress of work from his last visit in September this year, when motorists’ complaints were rife about the slow pace of the work and the associated inconveniences.
The inspection follows the government's recent clearance of all pre-2025 arrears owed to the contractor, Maripoma Enterprise Limited, which had caused the project to stall.
Project officials reported that physical work was now 77 per cent complete.
The government allocated GH¢14 billion under the "Big Push" programme this year, and a further GH¢30 billion is expected next year to ensure continuous funding for such projects.
90 Days
The President explained that his visit came exactly 90 days after his last visit in September, during which he promised to return after three months.
“I was here because of the outcry from the travelling public about the nature of this particular stretch of Ofankor-Nsawam road.
When we came, we met a road that was moving at a snail’s pace, and there were many constraints associated with what was happening”.
“One was the inability to make some demolitions in order to allow the contractor to work.
But a major one was non-payments for work done for a very long time,” President Mahama recalled.
He said after asking the Ministers of Roads and Highways, and Finance, to ensure that payment was made to the contractor, $70 million was released.
“Today is exactly three months since I last came here and I'm quite impressed with the progress that has been made.
I'll urge the contractor to continue to push hard,” President Mahama entreated.
He expressed hope that although the contractor promised to hand over the completed project in July next year, with the current pace of work, it could be done by April next year.
Expressway
The President stated that the government was committed to the ongoing project in spite of new landmark road projects started in many parts of the country.
The Ofankor-Nsawam stretch
He said the proposed Accra-Kumasi Expressway would continue as planned, in tandem with the expansion of the N6 highway linking the two cities.
The Accra-Kumasi Expressway has been described as the flagship of the Big Push Infrastructure Programme and the country’s first modern six-lane bi-directional Class A Expressway, stretching 198.7 kilometres.
It is expected to reduce the current travel distance by over 50km, from 250km to 198.7km.
Transport costs between Accra and Kumasi would also reduce by nearly 40 per cent, and create over 30,000 direct and indirect jobs during construction.
The expressway would feature eight major interchanges to be located at Accra, Adeiso, Asamankese, Akyem Oda, Ofoase, Lake Bosomtwe, and Kumasi, each designed to ease urban congestion and improve regional connectivity.
There would also be three major bridges over the Birim and Pra Rivers, among others.
The Adawso-Ekye Amanfrom Bridge and related road networks would open the Afram Plains to large-scale commercial agriculture, urgently required to unlock the agricultural and economic potential of the Afram Plains enclave.
President Mahama acknowledged the importance of the N6 corridor for thousands of daily commuters and the haulage of goods, and stressed the need for impeccable site management to minimise disruption.
He appealed to commuters and residents along the stretch for continued patience and cooperation with traffic management arrangements as work progresses.
Context, historical commitment
The Ofankor-Nsawam dualisation is a long-standing national priority.
The section was previously rehabilitated and expanded with a Chinese interest-free loan between 2004 and 2006.
The current dualisation project began in July 2022 with an initial completion date of July 2024 but was delayed due to funding challenges.
Mr Agbodza confirmed the full settlement of arrears and pledged the ministry's commitment to enforcing the revised timetable.
The completion of the highway segment is expected to dramatically ease congestion, reduce travel time, stimulate socio-economic activity, and strengthen Ghana’s position as a trade hub within the sub-region.
