How Accra-Kumasi Expressway could hurt Ashanti Region – Okatakyie Afrifa-Mensah explains

Ghanaian broadcaster Okatakyie Afrifa-Mensah has raised concerns that the proposed Accra-Kumasi Expressway could weaken the Ashanti Region’s traditional position as a major trading hub, arguing that the new road may change the movement of commerce across the country.

Okatakyie Afrifa-Mensah has questioned the potential economic implications of the planned Accra-Kumasi Expressway, claiming that the project could undermine the commercial importance of the Ashanti Region.

In a video circulating on social media on Saturday, November 7, 2026, the media personality argued that Ashanti’s strategic location has historically made it a major centre for traders serving communities in the middle belt and northern parts of Ghana.

He suggested that the new expressway could alter established trading patterns and affect the economic activities that have supported many people in the region.

Why Afrifa-Mensah is concerned

According to Afrifa-Mensah, the Ashanti Region benefits from its position as a commercial crossroads linking different parts of the country.

His argument is that improvements to the Accra-Kumasi connection could change how people and goods move between the two cities, potentially reducing the region’s traditional role in facilitating trade.

He went further to suggest that the government’s decision to pursue the new route could be an attempt to weaken Ashanti’s economic influence. However, this remains his allegation, and he has not presented evidence establishing that the project is intended to harm the region.

What the expressway will involve

The proposed 198.7-kilometre expressway will run from Ablekuma in Accra to Sewua in the Ashanti Region, passing through parts of the Eastern Region.

The six-lane project is designed to reduce the distance between Accra and Kumasi by more than 50 kilometres and cut journey times to approximately two hours. Government projections also point to lower transport costs and improved movement of goods and passengers.

The route is expected to connect with the Kumasi Outer Ring Road, while planned interchanges and service areas will support movement along the corridor.

A different view of the project

Afrifa-Mensah’s concerns contrast with the government’s position that the expressway will improve connectivity, stimulate economic activity and create employment opportunities.

The 2026 Budget projected that construction could generate more than 30,000 direct and indirect jobs. The government has also said the existing Accra-Kumasi highway will not be abandoned.

The debate therefore raises questions about how the new road could affect established trading centres, businesses and transport operators in Ashanti.

While the expressway is intended to improve national connectivity, the extent to which its economic benefits will be shared across communities remains an important issue as the project moves towards construction.