'Fix existing Accra-Kumasi highway; expressway is not the solution to current problems' — Kwadwo Poku

A member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) National Communications Team, Kwadwo Poku, has criticised the government’s decision to prioritise the construction of an expressway on the Accra-Kumasi highway, arguing that it will not address the immediate challenges facing road users.

He said while an expressway may be necessary in the long term, the current focus should be on improving the existing highway to reduce accidents and protect lives.

His comments follow the government's move to construct an expressway aimed at reducing travel time between Accra and Kumasi to about two hours, a project some critics argue should have been preceded by urgent interventions on the existing road.

Speaking on Accra-based JoyNews’ AM Show on Tuesday, August 4, Kwadwo Poku described the continued loss of lives on the stretch as worrying.

"It is very sad the way the NDC has left it. You cannot use expressway, which would take six to eight years to build, as the solution to the current problem on that road," he said.

The NPP communicator argued that the existing highway must be fixed while the expressway project progresses, noting that many residents and businesses depend on the current route for their daily activities.

He said the expressway could serve as an alternative route for motorists willing to pay tolls, while the existing road should be maintained as a reliable option for others.

"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 use that road," he added.

The NPP communicator also accused the government of failing to make provisions for the Accra-Kumasi highway project in its 2025 and 2026 budgets, despite describing the road as a priority.