President John Mahama has revealed plans to begin construction of a new Accra-Kumasi expressway next year as part of a renewed infrastructure agenda for the Ashanti Region.

Speaking at the Jubilee House on Monday, June 2, during a courtesy call by Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, President Mahama said his administration is set to invest heavily in roads, transport, health, education, and trade infrastructure under the “Big Push” initiative.

“I know how you care much about infrastructure development,” the President told the Asantehene. “In my first tenure as President, we worked together on several projects in the road, transport, education, health, trade and water sectors.”

He recalled several key achievements during his previous administration in Ashanti, including the iconic Kejetia Market Phase 1, the expansion of the Kumasi International Airport, and the construction of hospitals in Sewua and Afari. “We completed the 3k water project, which gave Konongo and Kumawu water and reconstructed several roads in the Kumasi metropolitan and surrounding districts,” he added.

Looking ahead, President Mahama disclosed that feasibility studies and design works are about to begin on the proposed Accra-Kumasi expressway. “We hope to be able to cut the sod early next year for work on this transformational project to commence,” he announced.

He also promised that the long-delayed Kejetia Market Phase 2, which he said has been held back by the domestic debt exchange programme, would be continued and completed under his leadership.

In addition, the President revealed plans for a new Kumasi Outer Ring Road. “This is a project that takes a road around Kumasi through Ejisu and appears on the Mampong and Techiman roads,” he said. “We will start the first quadrant to take the big trucks through Ejisu to come out on the Mampong and the Techiman roads so that they don’t go through Kumasi city.”

The President also announced plans to extend the runway of the Prempeh International Airport. "Work will soon start on extending the runway of the Prempeh International Airport to allow bigger wide-bodied aircraft to land and take off," he said.

As part of urban mobility improvements, President Mahama announced the Kumasi City Traffic Improvement Programme, which will include the completion of the Suame Interchange and associated bridges.

In the health sector, he gave assurance that his administration would finish the abandoned Sewua and Afari military hospitals, as well as the maternity and children’s blocks of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital. “These and many more projects in the road sector are planned to upgrade the general infrastructure of the Ashanti Region,” President Mahama said.