BTA Admin The Managing Director of Accra-Kumasi Expressway Limited, Engineer Francis Ahlidza, said the government expects to recoup the project’s investment within the next 50 years.
Engineer Ahlidza said that the long-term financial model for the 175.6-kilometre expressway has been designed not only to recover the initial investment but also to generate additional revenue that can be channelled into expanding the road network.
Speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show on Tuesday, September 15, Engineer Ahlidza explained that economic assessments are currently being conducted to determine how the investment can be recovered over the 50-year period.
He said the objective is to ensure that the project remains financially sustainable in the long term while creating room for further expansion of the network as demand for road transportation increases.
“We are doing economic analysis and we are expecting that we will recover the investment within a 50-year period and also rake in some money to expand the network.”
Engineer Ahlidza’s comments provide further details about the government’s financing and long-term plans for the Accra-Kumasi Expressway, which is expected to become one of the country’s major transport infrastructure projects.
He also sought to allay concerns over one of the persistent challenges associated with major road projects in Ghana concerning the delayed payment of contractors.
According to Engineer Ahlidza, the government has already made funds available for the project, meaning contractors who are engaged to undertake the construction should not face the payment delays that have historically affected the execution of some public infrastructure projects.
He said there is evidence of the availability of funds, pointing to a transfer into a dedicated account at the Bank of Ghana established for the Accra-Kumasi Expressway.
“The Finance Minister has already assured us and we have evidence, it is not by word of mouth. There has been a transfer of funds into the Accra-Kumasi Expressway special account at the Bank of Ghana and so as we award this contract, contractors will work and receive payment within the shortest possible time because the funds are available as of today.”
