Energy Analyst Kwadwo Poku has criticized the government's handling of the Accra-Kumasi highway project, arguing that the proposed expressway should not be presented as the immediate solution to the rising number of accidents on the route. Speaking on JoyNews' AM Show on Tuesday, August 4, Mr Poku said while the country needs a modern expressway, the government must prioritize rehabilitating the existing road, which continues to serve thousands of motorists daily.
Prioritizing Road Rehabilitation
According to Mr Poku, an expressway expected to take between six and eight years to complete cannot address the urgent safety concerns currently confronting users of the highway. "On this Accra-Kumasi, it's very sad the way the NDC has left it. You cannot use an expressway, which will take six to eight years to build, as the solution to the current problem on that road," he said. Mr Poku drew comparisons with road infrastructure in India, where motorists have the option of using tolled expressways or alternative roads that are equally functional.
Alternative Road Infrastructure
Mr Poku suggested that the government adopt a similar approach by rehabilitating the existing Accra-Kumasi highway while constructing the proposed expressway. "What this government should do is stop using the expressway as a solution to the accidents going on on the road today. Fix the existing road because there is already a livelihood. There are already people who are using that road," he said. Mr Poku also noted that the expressway, once completed, could operate as a tolled facility, with motorists who choose not to use it having access to a well-maintained alternative route.
Doubts on Government Commitment
Mr Poku questioned the government's commitment to the project, arguing that budget allocations have not reflected the priority being attached to it. "You came to meet the road. In the 2025 budget, you didn't put anything in there. In 2026, you didn't put anything in there. We are now being told today that it is going to be budgeted in 2027," he said. Mr Poku also cast doubt on suggestions that the project could be completed within two years, insisting that key preliminary processes, including feasibility studies, have not yet been concluded.
Call for Immediate Action
Reiterating his position, Mr Poku maintained that the government's immediate focus should be on improving the condition of the existing Accra-Kumasi road to enhance safety for motorists while longer-term plans for the expressway progress. "The point we are all saying is that please fix the existing road," he stressed. Mr Poku's call for immediate action highlights the urgent need for the government to address the safety concerns on the Accra-Kumasi highway, and to prioritize the rehabilitation of the existing road before embarking on the expressway project.
Source: Joy Online
