The Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson has revealed the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Bantema constituency in the Ashanti Region, Francis Asenso-Boakye, has officially written to President John Mahama, asking him to abandon his agenda to construct the proposed Accra-Kumasi expressway.
The project, expected to commence next year, 2026, the MP insists is wasteful.
Instead, the former Minister for Roads and Highways in the letter urged the President to focus his government’s attention on existing roads which are yet to be completed, citing the Accra Kumasi Highway dualisation project which is nearing completion.
Presenting his concluding remarks during the last day of debate of the 2026 budget statement, the Minister expressed complete shock at his colleague’s action especially so because he is a lawmaker from not only the region but his constituency is in the Kumasi metropolis.
“Mr. Speaker, on the issue of the Accra-Kumasi expressway, let me take my time to correct some impression. The honourable Asenso Boakye suggested that the proposed Accra-Kumasi expressway is wasteful and that we in opposition opposed the dualisation. Mr. Speaker that cannot be the case. I was surprised and amazed to see a colleague Member of Parliament particularly an MP from Kumasi to describe the project as wasteful. An MP of which the road is leading to his constituency will say that the road is wasteful. To the extent that the said MP wrote to the President to tell the President that don’t do that project. Mr Speaker, I am surprised, I am surprised to hear that. Let me say that this road from Accra to Kumasi is more than a road, it is opening up a country so an MP from that constituency to write and to say that it is wasteful, we should not do it and write to the President that he should not do the project it is untenable|”, he said.
He reiterated that government is unopposed to the dualisation of the highway and indicated commitment to complete it. He said what the government is against is the alleged inflated price and mismanagement of the project.
“We are cleaning it up, we are delivering value for money.”
While expressing his surprise, on the floor, the Minority side led by the Deputy Minority Leader Patricia Appiagyei objected to the assertion pointing out that the Bantama MP was not in the chamber and that it was unfair for him to be mentioned in his absence.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s just a point of clarification. I heard the Minister for Finance indicating that Honourable Asenso was talking about the abandonment of the project which they proposed. But that is a clear misrepresentation. That is the truth. We were all here, and we know of the letter. So, I think it is mischievous, and we need to have clarity on this issue. We have it on record that he said there is an existing project which is almost completed, and so it should be completed. That was the suggestion.
So, Mr. Speaker, for a point of clarification, I think we should all be fair to each other. And the letter did indeed state that. Thank you very much”, she said.
After her intervention was permitted by the speaker, the Minister who had earlier expressed the desire to read the content of the letter was allowed to proceed to read it verbatim. Part of it said “Mr. Speaker, I have a copy of the letter with me. And so, Mr. Speaker, I want to send the letter to you. But, Mr. Speaker, I can read the details to you.
Mr. Speaker, His Excellency John Dramani Mahama, President of the Republic of Ghana—first, it is on the letterhead of the Office of the Member of Parliament, Bantama Constituency, dated 4th August 2025. It says:” Dear Mr. President, I appeal for reconsideration of the new Accra–Kumasi expressway proposal. I have the honour to convey my concern on the recent proposal by your administration to construct a completely new six-lane expressway between Accra and Kumasi. As someone who has served both as Minister of Roads and Highways and a Member of Parliament, representing a constituency directly linked to the Accra–Kumasi corridor, I fully appreciate the strategic importance of this route to our national economy. It remains the most critical road in Ghana, linking our two largest cities and serving as a vital economic lifeline. However, since John Agyekum Kufuor’s administration, significant progress has been made in dualising the corridor. Over 100 km of the 240 km stretch has been completed, with an additional 46 km currently under active construction, including strategic bypasses at Enyiresi–Osino, Enyanase, and Konongo, as per the country’s own records”.
He continued to give details of the letter saying “The fiscal progress on these bypasses ranges from 58% to 100%, with only 94 km left to be dualised. The recent announcement to initiate a completely new expressway project while these projects are underway raises genuine concern. I am particularly struck by the Roads Minister’s own admission that the Ministry is in the process of hiring a consultant to undertake the feasibility study for the new project. This suggests that there is no final design, no cost estimate, and no secured funding for the proposed expressway. Yet Your Excellency stated publicly that construction will begin next year and be completed before your term ends—a timeline of less than three years. With my expertise and experience, I can say without any fear of contradiction that this timeline is not feasible”.
The MP and former Minister’s letter went on to highlight the importance of continuing the highway but welcomed concerns by government that that the project contract was inflated but strongly cautioned against abandoning it.
“With the greatest respect, Mr. President, such pronouncements—made ahead of critical project milestones like feasibility, costing, environmental clearance, and financing—risk undermining our credibility in infrastructure planning and public investment management. Moreover, Article 35(7) of the 1992 Constitution enjoins government to continue development projects initiated by previous administrations in the national interest. Abandoning an ongoing project—one that is technically sound, economically justifiable, and already delivering results—contradicts this constitutional directive and may set a bad precedent for wasteful governance. I am aware that the Minister for Roads and Highways has raised concerns about alleged cost overruns arising from project variations. While such claims deserve to be thoroughly investigated and, if necessary, addressed through appropriate corrective measures, they should not serve as justification for abandoning the entire project. Variations and cost adjustments are common in major infrastructure works and can be managed within existing contractual and legal frameworks. Discontinuing a critical national project on the basis of unresolved variations not only undermines continuity but also sets a troubling precedent for future infrastructure development. In the context of Ghana’s current fiscal constraints and competing infrastructure needs nationwide, I respectfully submit that it would be far more prudent to complete the existing dualisation project than to commence a new, significantly more expensive one.
He argued that funds that are going to be pumped into the new project should rather be channeled into completing the on-going highway project.
“The resources needed for a fresh expressway could instead be channelled into completing the ongoing Accra–Kumasi dual carriageway and addressing other critical routes such as the Eastern Corridor, Coastal N1 Corridor, and Kumasi–Tamale Highway. My concern is not born out of partisanship but in the interest of continuity, prudence, and national development. I respectfully urge you to review the current course and provide leadership that consolidates—not disrupts—the modest gains we have made as a country.
Please accept, Your Excellency, the assurance of my highest consideration.” Mr. Speaker, clearly, this is what he said. He said that the project should not be continued. This is what he said. Honourable Members, at the time the Honourable Member referred to make his submission, I was presiding, and exactly what the Minister read is exactly what he submitted—no difference at all. And I am sure if he had been here, he would have confirmed that. You are only looking at two different sides of the same coin. It is half empty, half full. That is all that is happening. It was the same thing that he submitted here. Honourable Members, we have now come to a successful end and conclusion of the commentary on the statement by the Honourable Minister for Finance on the budget”, the Finance Minister read in conclusion.
Since the expose, many on social media have equally expressed shock at the MP’s behavior and tearing him apart for scheming to thwart development coming to the region and capital.
By Gifty Boateng