The Ghana Highways Authority Act, 1997 (Act 540), governs all roads in Ghana, with the Ghana Highway Authority (GHA) responsible for administration, control, development, and maintenance of trunk roads and related facilities. Section 2 of Act 540 provides that the GHA, subject to the policies of the responsible Ministry, oversees these functions. The GHA's responsibilities include planning, developing, maintaining, protecting, and administering trunk roads.
The Accra to Kumasi Expressway, connecting two major cities, falls under the category of trunk roads. According to Section 3 of Act 540, the GHA has the power to classify and prescribe design standards for different classes of trunk roads. Furthermore, the Authority is required to maintain and update lists of roads designated as trunk roads. However, correspondence and communications from the President, the Minister of Finance, and the Minister for Roads indicate that the expressway is being developed outside of the GHA's authority.
The Ghana Highway Authority has not been consulted on the design of the Accra-Kumasi Expressway, raising concerns about the drawings and designs used by the Ghana Armed Forces when constructing the road. Section 3(1)(c) of Act 540 empowers the GHA to classify and lay down design standards for different classes of trunk roads. The lack of involvement from the GHA in the expressway's development has sparked questions about the project's adherence to Ghana's highways law.
The Attorney-General of Ghana seems to be uninformed about many laws governing the nation, including the Ghana Highways Authority Act. The development of the Accra-Kumasi Expressway outside of the GHA's authority has significant implications for the country's infrastructure and governance. The GHA's role in ensuring that trunk roads meet specific design standards and are properly maintained is crucial for public safety and efficient transportation.
The construction of the Accra-Kumasi Expressway involved the Ghana Armed Forces cutting a 'bush path' from Ablekuma in Accra to Sewua in the Ashanti region. The lack of consultation with the GHA raises concerns about the project's overall planning and execution. The GHA's responsibilities include undertaking engineering, traffic, and economic studies for the trunk-road network, which appears to have been overlooked in the expressway's development.
The Ghana Highways Authority Act, 1997 (Act 540), provides a framework for the development and maintenance of trunk roads in Ghana. The Act establishes the GHA as the primary authority responsible for ensuring that trunk roads meet specific design standards and are properly maintained. The breach of this Act in the development of the Accra-Kumasi Expressway has significant implications for the country's infrastructure and governance.
The development of the Accra-Kumasi Expressway outside of the GHA's authority has sparked concerns about the project's legitimacy and adherence to Ghana's highways law. The GHA's role in ensuring that trunk roads meet specific design standards and are properly maintained is crucial for public safety and efficient transportation. The project's implications for the country's infrastructure and governance will likely be closely monitored by stakeholders and the general public.
Key points
- The Ghana Highways Authority Act, 1997 (Act 540), governs all roads in Ghana.
- The Accra-Kumasi Expressway development breached the Ghana Highways Authority Act.
- The Ghana Highway Authority has not been consulted on the design of the Accra-Kumasi Expressway.
