For thousands of commuters who rely daily on the Accra-Kumasi Highway, the past week has been nothing short of exhausting. Journeys that should take an average of 6 hours have stretched into 10 to 12-hour ordeals and are marked by frustrating gridlock, risky overtaking, and mounting frustration.
Commuters are forced to find alternative routes leading to bad roads, and sometimes road crashes.
Amid growing public anger and desperation, a road and building, Engineer Abdulai Mahama is urging the government to address the problems of the foremost highway, even before the proposed Accra-Kumasi Expressway is completed.
Ing. Abdulai Mahama believes that the proposed expressway is a step in the right direction, but the existing highway cannot be neglected in the meantime.
A Road Under Pressure; and People at Breaking Point
From traders transporting goods to families trying to return home, the human cost of the congestion is becoming increasingly visible.
Passengers sit for hours in stationary traffic. Drivers grow impatient. Tempers flare. And in that tension, dangerous decisions follow, reckless overtaking, lane indiscipline, and disregard for safety signs.
For the road construction engineer, the situation is not just congestion anymore; it has become a road safety crisis.
The Expressway: A Good Initiative, But Present Solution Needed
For Ing. Mahama, there is no doubt that the proposed Accra–Kumasi Expressway could transform travel between Ghana’s two major economic hubs.
It will bring about faster travel, reduced congestion, and alternative routes that would ease pressure on the existing corridor.
But as Ing. Mahama points out, that future is not here yet. And until it arrives, millions of Ghanaians will continue to depend on the current road, which is already overstretched and, in parts, deteriorating.
“The government’s proposed express road is laudable. However, we’ve had a lot of complaints from the citizenry who ply the Accra-Kumasi route on a daily basis. So it’s really important that those ones which are supposed to be completed to improve road quality are not abandoned as we decide to do a new infrastructure. The options would be where people would still want to drive on the existing Accra-Kumasi Highway when it’s completed,” he noted.
Fixing the Forgotten Pieces: Incomplete Bypasses
One of the most immediate concerns, according to the engineer, is the number of partially completed bypasses, including the one around Nkawkaw.
These projects were designed to divert traffic away from congested towns, improve travel time, and reduce accidents within communities.
But with construction still unfinished, commuters are left with half-solutions that deliver little relief. For the engineer, the government must, as a matter of urgency, complete what has already been started before shifting focus entirely to new infrastructure.
“We have also been informed about the fact that some of the newly constructed bypasses, the Nkawkaw one and the few other ones have not been completed yet. So it’s really important that those ones which are supposed to be completed to improve road quality is not abandoned as we decide to do a new infrastructure,” he emphasized.
Why the Old Road Still Matters Even After the Expressway
Even when the expressway is eventually built, Ing. Mahama maintains that the current highway will not become irrelevant.
He recounts that it will still remain a lifeline for communities such as Nkawkaw, Konongo, and also a route for residents whose homes and businesses sit along the corridor.
He adds it will still remain an accessible option for those who may not afford toll-based express travel. In other words, the existing road will continue to carry local and regional traffic, making its maintenance not optional, but essential.
“If you have an expressway, and you need to go to Kumasi on time, then you have an option of using a newly constructed road if it comes into fruition. And then people going to Nkawkaw, Konongo will still use the old road. There are a lot of communities that are dotted along the central spine of the country,” he noted.
The Immediate Solutions
Ing. Mahama’s recommendations are grounded in immediate, actionable steps:
1. Complete stalled bypasses
Finishing projects like the Nkawkaw bypass would instantly ease congestion in built-up areas and improve traffic flow.
2. Fix deteriorating sections
Bad stretches of road slow movement and increase accident risk. Targeted rehabilitation could significantly improve travel conditions.
3. Enforce driver discipline
He maintains that no infrastructure can compensate for dangerous behavior. Authorities must clamp down on reckless overtaking, lane indiscipline, and drivers who ignore road safety rules
Without enforcement, congestion quickly turns deadly.
For him, the expressway is an option, and not a total replacement. He envisions a future where commuters have real choices.
He points to countries like Kenya, where express routes offer speed at a cost, while alternative roads remain available for everyday use. That balance, he argues, is what Ghana should aim for.
The Bottomline
The proposed expressway may be Ghana’s long-term answer to congestion. But for now, commuters are dealing with a daily reality of delays, danger, and frustration.
Until that future arrives, Ing. Mahama is urging the government to fix what exists, finish what has started, and enforce discipline.
