The Finance Minister, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, ignited a fierce debate in Parliament today, accusing his colleague, Bantama MP Francis Asenso-Boakye, of actively working to sabotage the landmark Accra-Kumasi Expressway project by personally writing to the President to demand its cancellation.
The explosive allegation was made as the House wrapped up its debate on the 2026 Budget, with Dr. Forson dedicating a portion of his address to correcting what he termed “misleading impressions” about the crucial infrastructure plan.
The Allegation: Project Sabotage
Dr. Forson expressed shock that a high-profile MP from the Ashanti Region, which stands to gain immensely from the reduced travel time and economic benefits of the dual-carriage highway, would campaign against it.
“Mr. Speaker, I was surprised and amazed to see a colleague, a Member of Parliament, particularly an MP from Kumasi, describe the project as wasteful,” Dr. Forson stated, his voice ringing through the chamber.
He directly challenged the Bantama MP’s motives.
The Finance Minister then levelled the specific and highly serious charge:
“Mr. Speaker, to the extent that the said MP wrote to the President to say to the President that don’t do that project… Mr. Speaker, I am surprised. I am surprised. I am surprised.”
Dr. Forson did not stop at a mere allegation. He directly challenged Mr. Asenso-Boakye—who was not present at the time—to publicly deny the claim, promising to table conclusive evidence.
“I want to put it to him, if I wish he were here, for him to say it, that if he has not written to President John Mahama… Mr. Speaker, I am not alleging; I want him to prove it. Mr. Speaker, I want him to first deny here, so that I can provide you with evidence.”
The Economic Case for the Expressway
Dr. Forson emphasised that the Accra-Kumasi Expressway is far more than just a road; it is a vital economic artery essential for national development and prosperity.
He passionately dismissed Mr. Asenso-Boakye’s description of the project as “wasteful”.
“He went on to describe the road leaving Accra to Kumasi, the first expressway of its kind, as wasteful. Mr. Speaker, it can’t be wasteful. It cannot be wasteful. It is actually transformational. It is what will open this country up.”
The project, which aims to dramatically reduce the crippling travel time between Ghana’s two largest commercial hubs, is projected to unlock significant efficiencies in logistics, agricultural supply chains, and industrial transport.
The current single-carriageway route is notorious for high fatality rates, severe congestion, and major delays.
The Finance Minister concluded with a famous Chinese adage to justify the government’s aggressive infrastructure push:
“Mr. Speaker, the Chinese say that if you want to get rich, build roads first. We will get rich, and we will build the roads that will connect this country properly. Right Honourable Speaker.”
The government’s commitment to the multi-million dollar expressway project, which is designed to reduce the current 5-7 hour journey, remains a centrepiece of the 2026 budget’s infrastructure agenda, despite the internal political fallout now exposed in Parliament.
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