Accra-Tema Expressway project reaches 53% completion

Construction of the $339 million Accra-Tema Expressway and Extensions Project has reached a 53% completion milestone. The project, which officially commenced in August 2024, is designed to modernize the 19.5-kilometer corridor to alleviate traffic congestion and improve trade connectivity between Accra and the port city of Tema. Managed by Accra-Tema Expressway Limited (ATEL) with funding support from the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund (GIIF), the infrastructure works are currently scheduled for completion by August 2027.

Project Manager Ing. Benjamin Sackey reported significant progress on the structural components of the expansion. According to technical updates, approximately 70% of the required concrete structures, including bridges and various interchanges, have already been finished. The scope of the work involves a comprehensive reconstruction of the existing motorway into a multi-lane expressway, alongside the improvement of secondary interchanges to ensure a smoother flow of traffic for the thousands of commuters who use the route daily.

Despite the steady physical progress, project officials have raised concerns regarding external factors that could impede the construction timeline. Mr. Sackey highlighted that delays in relocating essential utility lines—specifically those belonging to the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL)—are currently threatening the August 2027 deadline. The intermittent nature of the relocation work by these utility providers has slowed the pace of construction at critical junctions, prompting the Ghana Highway Authority (GHA) to intervene to expedite the process.

The successful completion of the Accra-Tema Expressway is viewed as a vital component of Ghana’s national infrastructure strategy. By upgrading this major transport artery, the government aims to facilitate faster movement of goods from the Tema Harbour to the rest of the country and neighboring landlocked nations. While project managers remain optimistic about meeting their targets, the timely coordination of utility relocations remains the primary hurdle for the multi-million dollar project.