Claim: The NPP awarded the Accra-Kumasi Expressway contract before leaving office
Source: Danquah Smith Buttey, Acting NPP National Chairman
Verdict: False
Researched by Alfa Shaban
Danquah Smith Buttey, the Acting National Chairman of the main opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) claimed on Accra-based Neat FM that the erstwhile Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo government awarded a contract for the Accra – Kumasi Expressway project.
Asked whether he would commend the current government if it delivers on the Accra – Kumasi Expressway project, Buttey responded by claiming that the project was awarded during the former administration.
“The Accra – Kumasi Express Road, were they those that gave it out on contract? We gave the contract out before leaving office … you don’t know what you are saying, you can call Asenso right now to confirm what I am saying… When did they award the contract? I asked you to call Asenso because he was the Roads minister when the contract was given,” he said.
RelatedNews
He, however, failed to mention the name of the contractor when challenged by the host and insisted he wasn’t lying, reiterating the reference to Asenso. Francis Asenso-Boakye, sitting Member of Parliament for Bantama previously served as Minister for Roads and Transport.
This report will verify Chairman Buttey’s claim that the Accra – Kumasi Expressway was awarded under the Akufo-Addo government.
Fact-Check
GhanaFact’s checks showed that the first time the Expressway was mentioned was in the 2026 budget speech delivered by Finance Minister Cassiel Ato Forson on November 13, 2025. It was captured on page 31 and 32 under the heading: The Big Push Infrastructure Programme.
After the budget presentation, Parliament’s committee on Roads and Transport reviewed the expressway contract a day before the House approved the contract for the project. The Ministry of Roads and Highways served as the Contracting Authority with the Accra–Kumasi Expressway Limited named as the concessionaire.
In his 2026 State of the Nation’s Address (SONA) President Mahama also dedicated space to the project updating Parliament on progress on the project.
Why Asenso-Boakye? The former Roads Minister, is topical in expressway issues
Following the announcement of plans for an expressway, the Bantama MP publicly stated that the government needed to prioritize the ongoing Accra – Kumasi dualization works started by previous NPP governments instead of plans to scrap it because of the expressway works.
“The current Mahama administration has announced to construct a new expressway from Accra to Kumasi and plans to jettison the comprehensive dualisation project that is already well underway started by President Kufuor, neglected by the Mills/Mahama administration, and resurrected by the Akufo-Addo administration,” Asenso-Boakye wrote.
Asenso-Boakye also wrote an open letter to President John Mahama stating concerns about the project. His stern critique however, prompted a rebuttal by the finance minister on the floor of Parliament.
The former minister subsequently clarified his stance on the project and why he authored the letter to the President. “I wrote to President Mahama that if they abandon that project it will be a waste of resources because that project alone had achieved 64% physical completion. Having spent these resources and then you abandon it, it is going to be a problem especially, this highway is going to serve the same purpose as the proposed one,” he told Citi News.
Verdict:
From the above; the announcement, approval and funding of the project was under the John Dramani Mahama administration. Therefore, Chairman Buttey’s claim is FALSE!
Timeline of Accra – Kumasi Expressway
| Date | Event |
| April 4, 2025 | Finance minister mentions expressway in meeting with Chinese ambassador to Ghana |
| November 13, 2025 | Finance minister Ato Forson announces expressway plans in 2026 budget |
| December 3, 2025 | President Mahama assures that expressway project won’t affect Accra-Kumasi dualization |
| December 17, 2025 | Committee on Roads and Transport reviews expressway contract |
| December 18, 2025 | Parliament approves expressway contract |
| January 6, 2026 | President reiterates importance of the expressway |
| February 27, 2026 | President addresses expressway in State of the Nation’s Address |
| July 23, 2026 | Ato Forson announces US$1.7billion dedicated funding to the project |
