President John Dramani Mahama has directed the 48 Engineer Regiment of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) to serve as a major sub-contractor on the construction of the new Accra-Kumasi Expressway.
The directive forms part of government’s broader plan to utilise the technical expertise of the Armed Forces’ engineering units in major infrastructure projects under the Big Push programme.
Government spokesperson Felix Kwakye Ofosu announced the development, saying President Mahama had instructed the Minister for Roads and Highways to incorporate the 48 Engineer Regiment into the project as a major sub-contractor to the main contractor.
The President has also directed the Regiment to begin preparations towards clearing the right-of-way for the proposed New Accra Orbital Motorway, further expanding the military engineers’ involvement in government infrastructure works.
The 48 Engineer Regiment has already been involved in preparatory works for the Accra-Kumasi Expressway, particularly the clearing of the project’s right-of-way.
As of Monday, September 14, 2026, the Regiment had cleared 175.6 kilometres of the right-of-way, with the completed section scheduled for formal handover to the government at Kwaso near Ejisu.
President Mahama first announced in January 2026 that the 48 Engineer Regiment would participate in road construction projects as part of efforts to leverage the military’s technical capacity while generating internally generated funds for the Ghana Armed Forces.
The latest directive comes as government prepares for the construction phase of the Accra-Kumasi Expressway. The Ministry of Roads and Highways on September 12 issued an invitation for prequalification from companies interested in undertaking the project.
The proposed expressway is a key project under the government’s Big Push infrastructure programme and is planned as a six-lane, access-controlled highway linking Accra and Kumasi.
Government has secured US$1.7 billion for the project, with the funds deposited in a dedicated account at the Bank of Ghana and ring-fenced for the project once the main construction contract is awarded.
President Mahama has previously indicated that the new expressway is expected to cut travel time between Accra and Kumasi from about five hours to approximately two hours.
The project is also expected to bypass major towns along the existing route, while improving road safety, traffic flow and connectivity between the two major cities.
With the right-of-way largely cleared and the prequalification process underway, the project is now moving closer to the commencement of the main construction works.
