According to a story by Citinewsroom.com, the Ghana Institution of Engineering (GhIE) has urged government to exercise caution over plans to construct a new Accra-Kumasi expressway, warning that the project risks failure if rushed.
Speaking at the maiden Ghana Geotechnical and Geosynthetics Conference at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) from September 3rd to 4th, 2025 GhIE President, Ludwig Annang Hesse, stressed that such a massive Greenfield project requires at least five years of engineering studies and ground preparation before construction.
The story further added that, he cautioned that governments often rush into starting new projects within their tenure, sacrificing quality and sustainability.
His remarks come on the heels of assurances given by Roads and Highways Minister, Governs Kwame Agbodza, who, speaking at the government’s Accountability Series in July 2025, reaffirmed the state’s readiness to break ground on a new expressway, a flagship project under the administration’s ambitious “Big Push” infrastructure agenda.
Mr. Agbodza noted that the project, described as the first of its scale in Ghana, would involve a new alignment, not just an expansion of the existing National Highway 6 (N6).
The debate comes at a time when the 250.4 km Accra-Kumasi highway remains one of Ghana’s deadliest roads. In the first half of 2025 alone, road crash deaths surged by 21.6% to 1,504 with multiple fatalities recorded, including 15 members of the Savior Church.
The debate over the Accra-Kumasi expressway could not have come at a more critical moment in Ghana’s infrastructure journey. On one hand, the government, led by the Minister for Roads and Highways, Governs Kwame Agbodza, is eager to launch an ambitious Greenfield expressway project. On the other hand, the Ghana Institution of Engineering (GhIE), led by its President, Ludwig Annang Hesse, has sounded a timely caution: do not rush!
The Chronicle believes this is more than a technical disagreement. It is about the nation’s approach to solving one of its most pressing problems, the safety and efficiency of the National Highway 6, the 250.4 km stretch linking Accra and Kumasi. This road is Ghana’s economic artery, yet it is also a death trap.
Between January and June 2025, road crash fatalities soared by 21.6% claiming 1,504 lives. In March 2024, 21 people perished in a single crash and just recently 15 members of the Savior Church lost their lives on this same stretch. These are not mere statistics – they are avoidable tragedies.
The GhIE is right to insist that a project of this magnitude requires no less than five years of rigorous geotechnical assessment, planning and design.
The government, meanwhile, is justified in its desire for bold, strategic infrastructure that positions Ghana for long-term growth and regional integration. But ambition without patience can be disastrous and, therefore, rushing into construction for political mileage risks creating yet another monumental white elephant.
The middle ground is consultation. Engineers, Policymakers, Financiers and other Stakeholders must come to the table. While long-term plans for a new expressway are drawn up, immediate interventions such as accelerating the dualisation of the existing N6, improving lighting and enhancing traffic enforcement must not be delayed. After all, lives are being lost daily.
This is not the time for political showmanship. It is a moment for sober reflection and collaboration. Ghana’s engineers have offered sound professional advice and it must be heeded. If we want an expressway that will endure for generations, then careful preparation is non-negotiable.
As the old saying goes, a stitch in time saves nine. The government must balance urgency with wisdom, and together with the GhIE, ensure that Ghana builds not just quickly, but correctly.
The post Editorial: Construction Of New Accra-Kumasi Expressway Is Good But… appeared first on The Ghanaian Chronicle.
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