Complete Accra-Kumasi Highway; recurring tragedies unacceptable – Minority

The Minority Caucus in Parliament has called on the government to urgently complete unfinished bypasses and outstanding construction works along the Accra-Kumasi Highway, following Monday's fatal multi-vehicle crash at Birimso Bridge near Bonsu Junction in the Eastern Region.

According to the Minority, the latest tragedy underscores the urgent need for immediate interventions to improve safety on one of Ghana's busiest and most economically important highways.

The accident, which occurred on Monday, August 3, 2026, claimed the lives of three people and left several others with varying degrees of injuries.

The collision involved a State Transport Company (STC) bus, a fuel tanker, a Mitsubishi pick-up and a Kia Sorento, resulting in significant traffic disruption and renewed public concern over the condition of the highway.

Emergency responders, including the Police, Ghana National Fire Service and Ambulance Service, worked to rescue victims and clear the wreckage while traffic was diverted through alternative routes.

The Birimso Bridge stretch has become notorious for serious road crashes over the years, with speeding, congestion and ongoing road construction frequently cited as contributing factors.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, the Minority Caucus expressed its condolences to the bereaved families and wished those injured a speedy recovery.

The caucus described the latest accident as another painful reminder that the country's road safety challenges require urgent and decisive action.

Far too many lives have been lost on this highway, and the nation cannot continue to accept these recurring tragedies as inevitable," the statement said.

The Minority urged the government to prioritise the completion of unfinished sections of the Accra-Kumasi Highway, particularly bypasses and other outstanding engineering works that could significantly improve traffic flow and reduce accident risks.

While acknowledging the importance of the proposed US$1.7 billion Accra-Kumasi Expressway Project, the Minority argued that the existing highway deserves immediate attention because it continues to carry thousands of commuters and commercial vehicles every day.

According to the caucus, although government has reportedly secured funding for the expressway project through an escrow account at the Bank of Ghana, approximately US$300 million would be sufficient to complete the remaining works on the current highway.

The lawmakers maintained that finishing the existing road would provide quicker safety benefits and help prevent further loss of lives while the larger expressway project is being developed.

The immediate priority should be to complete the existing highway that can save lives now," the statement emphasised.

The Minority further appealed to the government to accelerate ongoing construction works instead of allowing projects to remain incomplete for extended periods.

According to the caucus, delays in completing bypasses, bridges and other critical road infrastructure continue to expose motorists to unnecessary risks.

It warned that unless urgent action is taken to improve the safety of the Accra-Kumasi Highway, more preventable road crashes and fatalities could occur.

The lawmakers therefore urged authorities to treat the completion of the highway as a national priority while work on the proposed Accra-Kumasi Expressway progresses.