As the government channels significant petroleum revenues into its flagship infrastructure drive, fresh calls are emerging for greater transparency, especially on one of the country’s most ambitious road projects.
The Public Interest and Accountability Committee (PIAC), in its 2025 Annual Report, is urging the government to publicly disclose detailed information on the construction of the Accra–Kumasi Expressway.
The Accra-Kumasi Expressway is a key project under the much-publicised “Big Push” agenda, and it is expected to improve commuting time and enhance economic activities when completed.
A Big Project, Funded by Oil Money
The Accra–Kumasi Expressway is not just another road project. It represents a major investment aimed at easing congestion, boosting trade, and linking Ghana’s economic hubs more efficiently.
Crucially, a significant portion of its funding is coming from the Annual Budget Funding Amount (ABFA), a pool of oil revenues meant to finance national development priorities.
For many Ghanaians, this makes the project more than infrastructure. It is a test case of how well the country is managing its petroleum wealth.
PIAC’s Core Concern: Where Are the Details?
Despite the scale and importance of the project, PIAC says there is a need for more publicly available information to track how funds are being used.
The Committee is calling on the government to be proactive in publishing key details such as project costs and financing structure, procurement processes and contractors involved, timelines and milestones, disbursement of ABFA funds, etc.
Without this information, PIAC warns, effective monitoring becomes difficult, raising concerns about accountability and value for money.
“Government should be proactive in publishing the project details on the construction of the Accra – Kumasi Expressway to enable the Committee to effectively monitor of the utilisation of the ABFA,” the latest PIAC report recommended.
Making Oil Revenue Visible
PIAC is also pushing for more visibility of projects funded through the oil revenues.
The Committee wants all projects funded through the ABFA to be clearly branded and identifiable. This would allow citizens to easily recognize which developments are financed by petroleum revenues.
Such visibility, PIAC argues, strengthens public awareness and reinforces accountability, ensuring that oil wealth is not just managed, but seen to be working for the people.
“Projects funded from the ABFA should be appropriately branded to make them visible to citizens,” the Committee further urged.
A Test for the “Big Push” Agenda
The government’s Big Push infrastructure programme is designed to accelerate development and stimulate economic growth. But as PIAC’s recommendation suggests, execution matters as much as ambition.
Publishing project details and making funding transparent could help build confidence, attract investor interest, and ensure that the benefits of these projects are widely felt.
By opening up the books and making project details public, the government has an opportunity to turn this project into a model of transparency and accountability.
