Ghana's Armed Forces have successfully cleared 175.6 kilometres of forest, farmland, and river corridor for the Accra-Kumasi Expressway in 19 weeks, one week ahead of schedule. The handover to President John Mahama on September 14 was celebrated as "mission accomplished." The project aims to connect Accra and Kumasi, two of Ghana's major cities, with a significant infrastructure development. The expressway is estimated to cost roughly $4 billion.
The Daily Searchlight's series revealed that no funds for the Army's clearance can be identified in either the 2025 or 2026 budget. This raises concerns about the source of funding for the operation. According to the Controller and Accountant-General's Department, the roughly GH¢11 billion earmarked for the expressway in 2025 sits unspent in a dedicated Bank of Ghana account. However, the department clarified that the Army's clearing is a separate preparatory activity and is not paid for from that money.
President Mahama announced that $2 billion is already in a special Bank of Ghana account for the project. Finance Minister Cassiel Ato Forson stated that full project funding will be ready by the end of 2026 and that "not a single pesewa will be borrowed." However, this funding is allocated for construction, not the clearing operation. The public record does not identify which budget line, vote, or ministry paid for the Army's fuel, equipment, allowances, or compensation for affected farms and property.
Under Ghana's Constitution, public money is meant to be spent only with parliamentary authority. If the clearing was funded from the Ghana Armed Forces' own allocation, from a reallocation, or from a contingency vote, Parliament and the public should be informed about the specific source. The project's estimated cost and the involvement of the Engineers Regiment as a major subcontractor make transparency on the clearing costs crucial for evaluating value for money.
Chief of Defence Staff Lt Gen William Agyapong instructed troops in May to ensure farms and properties had been assessed by valuers before they were destroyed. The question remains as to who is paying those affected and how much. This information is essential for accountability and ensuring that those affected by the project receive fair compensation.
As Ato Forson was Acting Minister for Defence when the Army was deployed, it is reasonable to ask him for a clear account of the funding path. The Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Defence, and the Ghana Armed Forces can settle this quickly by publishing the total cost of the clearing, the source of funds, and whether Parliament was informed or approved.
Until the information is made public, one of Ghana's most celebrated infrastructure milestones rests on an unexplained line in the accounts. Key issues that need clarification include the total cost of the clearing, the source of funds, and compensation paid to affected property owners.
Key points
- The Ghana Armed Forces cleared 175.6km for the Accra-Kumasi Expressway in 19 weeks.
- There are concerns over the source of funding for the Army's clearing operation.
- The project is estimated to cost roughly $4 billion.
