KEY POINTS
- President Mahama has announced a Greater Kumasi By-Pass to decongest Kumasi and improve regional logistics.
- The by-pass will reroute heavy-duty trucks via Ejisu, connecting to Mampong and Techiman roads.
- The project is part of the Big Push Initiative, which includes markets, airport upgrades, and infrastructure revival in Ashanti Region.
President John Dramani Mahama has unveiled plans for a major road infrastructure development in the Ashanti Region under his administration’s flagship Big Push Initiative.
The project, titled the Greater Kumasi By-Pass, aims to significantly decongest the Kumasi city center by redirecting heavy-duty trucks traveling to Burkina Faso and Mali away from the heart of the city.
“Under the Big Push, we are going to commence the construction of what we call the Greater Kumasi By-Pass,” Mahama announced during a durbar of chiefs and people of Ashanti held in Kumasi as part of his thank-you tour.
A key corridor for regional trade and mobility
The President noted that the first quadrant of the by-pass would run through Ejisu and connect to the Mampong and Techiman roads. “This means all articulated trucks heading to Burkina Faso and Mali will no longer drive through Kumasi. They will turn right at Ejisu and appear on the Techiman road,” he explained.
The Greater Kumasi By-Pass is expected to reduce urban congestion, promote safer and more efficient travel, and help restore Kumasi’s urban order. The route will also enhance Ghana’s role as a transportation and logistics hub for the West African sub-region by easing the movement of goods and people.
Beyond the by-pass, President Mahama used the platform to renew his promise to complete several stalled infrastructure projects across the Ashanti Region. These include Phase Two of the Kejetia-Central Market Redevelopment and the long-abandoned Krofrom Market, which has remained unfinished for 17 years.
“We are determined to complete these markets because they will help ease congestion, improve trading environments, and restore dignity to our market women,” Mahama said, reiterating the broader goals of his Big Push strategy.
In aviation, Mahama described the ongoing expansion of the Agyemang Prempeh International Airport runway as a top priority for his administration. The upgraded airport, he said, would support Kumasi’s transformation into a regional economic center and improve air connectivity for domestic and international travel.
“The Ashanti Region will receive its fair share of national development under my leadership,” Mahama assured, underscoring his commitment to inclusive growth.
The Greater Kumasi By-Pass, once completed, is expected to become one of the most impactful road infrastructure developments in the region’s recent history, addressing decades-long concerns over traffic gridlock and inadequate urban transport planning.
Stakeholders in the Ashanti Region have lauded the announcement, viewing the project as a long-overdue intervention to revitalize Kumasi’s infrastructure and boost its economic prospects.
The Big Push Initiative is Mahama’s infrastructure-focused development agenda that aims to inject massive investments into roads, markets, schools, and health facilities across Ghana to stimulate job creation and sustainable growth.
