The Minister for Roads and Highways, Governs Kwame Agbodza, pressed contractors on Tuesday to speed up work on the Accra-Kumasi Bypass, with a clear deadline: finish by the end of 2027. His main focus was the Konongo section, which he called one of the hardest parts due to heavy traffic congestion on the existing road.
During an inspection of the ongoing construction on September 29, Minister Agbodza pointed out that the Konongo bypass causes serious delays for residents and travellers in the Ashanti Region. He said the ministry and the Ghana Highway Authority have heard repeated calls from local stakeholders to complete this stretch as quickly as possible.
The minister thanked contractors who had returned to the site after a period of inactivity, singling out Kofi Job and others who had remobilised ahead of schedule. He said some contractors have made good progress, with at least one having already completed and handed over their section of the bypass.
“We want to thank Kofi Job and all of them who have remobilised to the site and are working. We have very high confidence in all the contractors working on the bypass project to be able to complete it by the end of 2027,” Agbodza said.
He acknowledged that the terrain varies across the project’s different sections but insisted this should not slow down work. “We can see that some of the contractors are working harder than the others. Don’t forget somebody has actually completed his work and handed it over. So we are just encouraging the other contractors. Yes, the terrain may not be the same for the various lots, but let’s see you putting in your maximum effort to get this completed,” he told contractors.
The minister has set a near-term goal to make the Konongo section usable before the end of the year, even while full construction continues. “We must necessarily complete this section or at least make it motorable within the shortest possible time. I think before Christmas we should be able to complete those structures so that people can decide to drive on this side as well,” he said.
Agbodza admitted that not all contractors were working before 2024. “You are right; all the contractors were not working before 2024. And we’ve been working with them and the Highway Authority for a period. And when we were in Kumasi the last time, the stakeholders appealed for a speedy completion. And I remember getting in touch with Kofi Job to remobilise to the site. And indeed, they mobilised to the site even ahead of what we were expecting,” he added.
The Accra-Kumasi Bypass is a major infrastructure project meant to ease traffic between Ghana’s two largest cities. The Konongo section cuts through a busy area in the Ashanti Region where traffic congestion on the existing carriageway often causes delays. The government sees its timely completion as essential to reducing road congestion and improving travel times.
Contractors working on the bypass face challenges ranging from tough terrain to coordinating work across multiple sites. Still, the minister’s visit showed the government’s push to keep the project on track and deliver it within the agreed timeframe.
With less than four years left before the 2027 deadline, the pressure is on those handling the Konongo segment to move faster. The local community and other stakeholders will watch closely as the project advances, hoping the bypass will finally ease the traffic jams that have long held back movement in the area.
According to 3News.
