Building the Future: How Major Infrastructure Projects Are Transforming Accra

Accra is undergoing a profound physical transformation. Across the capital, the signs of change are impossible to miss—from the soaring interchanges along the Ofankor-Nsawam corridor to the freshly paved roads in Abokobi, from the renovated classrooms in Korle Gonno to the planned electric buses set to ease congestion on the city’s choked arteries.

This infrastructure renaissance is not happening by accident. It is the result of deliberate policy, strategic investment, and a coordinated vision to reshape Accra into a more efficient, liveable, and competitive city. The “Big Push” infrastructure agenda, the 24-Hour Economy policy, and the ambitious Accra Reset Initiative are all converging to create a wave of development unprecedented in the capital’s history .

From the macro to the micro—from a new Green Digital City spanning three regions to neighbourhood boreholes drilled in local schools—the projects underway are touching every facet of urban life .

This ASJ guide provides a comprehensive overview of the major infrastructure projects transforming Accra, examining their scope, timeline, and implications for residents and businesses.

Airport Modernisation: A New Gateway for Accra

Terminal 2 Remodelling ($18 Million)

One of the most visible transformations underway is the $18 million remodelling of Terminal 2 at Accra International Airport (formerly Kotoka International Airport) . The project, inspected by Transport Minister Joseph Bukari Nikpe in March 2026, is scheduled for completion by July 2026 .

Project Scope:

• Renovation and upgrade of Terminal 2 to handle both domestic and international flights

• Reduction of passenger congestion currently experienced at Terminal 3

• Updated airport signage, including renaming to “Accra International Airport”

Minister Nikpe emphasized the strategic importance of the project: “We are here today to inspect the works the contractors are doing to remodel Terminal 2, enabling it to serve both Ghanaians and international passengers. We hope that by July, the contractors will complete the project on schedule, allowing Terminal 2 to fully play its dual role as both a domestic and an international terminal” .

The dual-function capability is expected to significantly improve passenger flow and operational efficiency, positioning Accra’s airport among the top facilities in Africa .

Road Infrastructure: Connecting the Capital and Beyond

Accra-Kumasi Expressway: Ghana’s First True Expressway

Perhaps the most ambitious road project in Ghana’s history, the Accra-Kumasi Expressway promises to revolutionize travel between the country’s two largest cities . Announced by President John Dramani Mahama in his February 2026 State of the Nation Address, the project is now moving forward with feasibility studies and design work underway .

Key Specifications:

Project Structure:
The government has established a special purpose vehicle, Accra-Kumasi Expressway Limited, a subsidiary of the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund (GIIF), to oversee delivery . The Ministry of Roads and Highways will act as the Contracting Authority, with the project structured as a long-term concession of up to 50 years .

Roads Minister Kwame Governs Agbodza has outlined additional features: the expressway will include filling stations, electric vehicle charging points, and fire stations along the corridor to ensure safety and convenience . Access will be carefully planned, with connecting roads linking nearby communities rather than driving the expressway through settlements .

The project follows ECOWAS transport rules requiring expressways to operate on a user-pay basis while providing alternative routes for motorists who may not wish to pay tolls .

Ofankor-Nsawam Road Project (33.4 km)

The Ofankor-Nsawam road project, a critical section of National Route Six (N6) linking Accra to the northern parts of the country, is progressing steadily with approximately 80% of work completed . Despite earlier setbacks, the contractor, Meripoma Enterprise Limited, has accelerated work following a $77 million government release in August 2025 .

Project Scope:

• 33.4 km dual carriageway

• Four major interchanges at Amasaman, Pobiman, Medie, and Nsawam Junction

• Multiple flyovers and footbridges

• Service roads and ancillary facilities

Resident Engineer David-Thomas Arthur expressed optimism that the revised July 2026 deadline would be met, noting that additional resources have been deployed . The project has faced challenges including court cases relating to compensation, right-of-way issues, and utility line relocation, but these are being resolved .

Upon completion, the project is expected to significantly reduce travel time, enhance road safety, improve vehicular movement along the busy corridor, promote trade with neighbouring countries, and facilitate smooth transportation of goods and services .

Pantang-Abokobi Road Rehabilitation

In March 2026, rehabilitation work officially began on the Pantang Junction–Abokobi road in the La Nkwantanang-Madina Municipality . The 8.6-kilometre stretch had become a major concern for commuters, with deteriorating conditions causing serious challenges for road users .

Project Scope:

• Elevating and widening the existing road

• Improving side drains to curb perennial flooding

• Replacing selected culverts

• Constructing U-drains

• Resealing and resurfacing the entire 8.6 km stretch with bitumen

• Contractor: Awerco Construction Limited

• Timeline: 18 months

La Nkwantanang-Madina Municipal Chief Executive Alhaji Ibrahim Husseini Faila emphasized the importance of maintaining access to health facilities, including Pantang Hospital, to ensure emergency services are not hindered . He warned residents who have encroached on the road’s right of way to remove their structures, stating: “Enough notices of removal have been served. Anyone whose structure is still on the right of way will have it destroyed” .

Additional community roads in the municipality, including the Oyarifa–Owusu-Ansah and Oyarifa–Asiedu Nketia roads, are also being rehabilitated to improve access, prevent flooding through new drains, and open up areas to enhance socio-economic life .

Urban Mobility: Electric Buses and Mass Transit

AMA’s Electric Metro Bus Programme

The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) is planning to introduce what it describes as the city’s first metro transport system, starting with city-owned electric buses to operate on major routes at low fares .

Mayor Michael Kpakpo Allotey announced the plan in January 2026, describing it as a response to a deepening mobility crisis. The statistics are stark:

• Accra records about 2.77 billion trips annually

• An estimated 1.91 billion car trips occur in the core area

• The city centre’s daytime population reaches about 2.98 million within 247 square kilometres

• The road network carries about 15.9 billion vehicle kilometres every year

While about 70% of trips in Accra are made by public transport, road space still largely benefits private car users . The electric bus programme aims to rebalance this equation, providing a cheaper, cleaner, and more reliable public transport option for commuters .

Mayor Allotey framed the initiative as part of a wider vision: “The AMA’s vision was to build a ‘modern, mobile Accra’ where residents could move freely, reach destinations on time and breathe cleaner air, adding that improving transport was ultimately about quality of life and a more competitive city economy” .

Beyond the initial bus roll-out, the AMA’s longer-term mass transit plan prioritizes strategic investment in high-capacity systems for the most congested corridors in the city centre .

The Green Digital City: A New Urban Centre

Vision and Scope

In January 2026, President John Dramani Mahama announced the impending inauguration of a task force to begin the demarcation and design of the Green Digital City, a new urban centre straddling three regions: Greater Accra, Eastern, and Volta .

The President clarified misconceptions about the project, emphasizing that Accra will remain Ghana’s capital. The new city is designed to house relocated government offices and key institutions to decongest the capital, not replace it .

Key Features:

• Location spanning Greater Accra, Eastern, and Volta regions

• Will house government offices and institutions relocated from Accra

• Part of government’s infrastructure development strategy under the Big Push programme

• Task force responsible for planning, demarcation, and design

President Mahama described the project as one of the iconic initiatives that will see massive improvements in the country’s infrastructure, alongside the Accra-Kumasi Expressway .

The Green Digital City represents a fundamental shift in Ghana’s urban planning philosophy—moving from passive accommodation of growth to active creation of new economic centres designed to promote balanced regional development .

Community-Level Infrastructure: The AMA’s Six Projects

Sectors Covered

In January 2026, the Accra Metropolitan Assembly cut sod to begin six development projects across the education, health, roads, and water sectors in the Ashiedu Keteke, Ablekuma South, and Okaikoi South Sub-Metropolitan Districts .

Project Summary:

Mayor Michael Kpakpo Allotey expressed appreciation to President Mahama for supporting assemblies through the Common Fund and called on residents to support the Assembly’s work, insisting that “governance must be driven by action and service to the people” .

Borehole Initiative

At a sod-cutting ceremony for the drilling and mechanisation of a borehole at Korle Gonno (Korle Boys), Member of Parliament for Ablekuma South, Hon. Alfred Okoe Vanderpuijie, explained that the intervention formed part of a wider plan to provide 10 boreholes in carefully selected schools across the metropolis to address persistent water challenges .

The decision was informed by financial constraints many schools face, with those previously relying on PTA contributions increasingly unable to raise such support. The boreholes are intended to augment water supply and strengthen sanitation in schools, particularly in light of lessons from COVID-19 on the importance of hygiene and handwashing .

Road Improvements

On the Kwame Nkrumah Avenue corridor, the MP noted that he had consistently called on the Mayor to prioritise fixing the deteriorated road due to the hardship it imposed on residents, motorists, and commuters . The poor state of the road affected vehicle movement and worsened flooding during rains.

The MP indicated he would insist on faster delivery within three months by ensuring the contractor worked round-the-clock, in line with the government’s 24-Hour Economy policy, to bring relief to residents and road users .

Planning Framework: The AMA’s Medium-Term Development Plan

Vision 2026–2029

The Accra Metropolitan Assembly has approved its 2026–2029 Medium-Term Development Plan (MTDP) , which aims to guide Accra’s transformation into a “Smart, Safe, and Climate-Resilient City” that fosters decent jobs and shared prosperity .

Key elements of the MTDP include:

• Job creation and economic transformation

• Resilient infrastructure development

• Sustainable urban living

• Enhanced revenue mobilisation through digitisation and property rate revaluation

The plan is supported by the approved 2026 Composite Budget, Annual Action Plan, and Fee-Fixing Resolution, which together form the foundation of the Assembly’s fiscal and operational strategy for the coming year .

Head of Public Affairs at the AMA, Mr Gilbert Nii Ankrah, called on citizens to support the Assembly and the Mayor’s vision: “The Accra we all want can be achieved if we collaborate and work together” .

Smart City Initiatives

The AMA’s EXECO report, presented in October 2025, contained recommendations aimed at strengthening financial management, improving service delivery, and enhancing infrastructure . Key proposals included:

• Opening an escrow account in consultation with the Controller and Accountant General

• Relocating transport vehicles from Agbogbloshie market to Yam Market to ease traffic flow

• Renovating key health centres (Princess Marie Hospital, Makola Government Hospital, Ussher Hospital)

• Resourcing the Births and Deaths Department to enhance outreach registration

• Reducing expenditure on official celebrations (Homowo, Salah) to allow more capital investment

• Approving reviewed sanitation by-laws to strengthen environmental management

The Big Push: Financing the Transformation

The Big Push Initiative

President Mahama’s “Big Push” infrastructure agenda underpins many of the projects transforming Accra. This initiative represents a coordinated, large-scale investment in national infrastructure designed to accelerate development and create jobs .

Key projects under the Big Push include:

• The Accra-Kumasi Expressway

• The Green Digital City

• The Ofankor-Nsawam road project

• Various community-level interventions

Funding Mechanisms

Projects are being financed through multiple channels:

Project Timelines at a Glance

Economic and Social Implications

Job Creation

Infrastructure projects are significant employers, creating jobs both directly (construction) and indirectly (supply chains, induced economic activity). The 24-Hour Economy policy, which encourages round-the-clock work, is being applied to some projects to accelerate delivery and maximise employment .

Economic Competitiveness

Improved infrastructure enhances Accra’s competitiveness by:

• Reducing travel times and logistics costs

• Improving reliability of transport networks

• Enhancing the city’s appeal to investors

• Creating modern, efficient spaces for commerce

Quality of Life

For residents, the transformation means:

• Reduced commute times

• Improved access to education (renovated schools)

• Better healthcare facilities (clinic upgrades)

• Reliable water supply (boreholes, storage)

• Safer, more walkable streets

Regional Development

The Green Digital City represents a strategic shift toward balanced regional development, creating economic opportunities outside the congested capital while preserving Accra’s status as the seat of government .

Challenges and Considerations

Right-of-Way Encroachment

One persistent challenge across multiple projects is encroachment on road reservations. La Nkwantanang-Madina MCE Alhaji Ibrahim Husseini Faila warned residents occupying rights of way to remove their structures, stating that “enough notices of removal have been served” and that enforcement would follow .

Project Delays

Major infrastructure projects in Ghana have historically faced delays due to funding constraints, legal challenges, and utility relocation issues. The Ofankor-Nsawam road project, originally scheduled for completion in July 2024, has been extended twice and is now targeting July 2026 .

Compensation and Land Acquisition

Court cases relating to compensation have affected project timelines, as seen in the Ofankor-Nsawam project . Ensuring fair and timely compensation for affected persons remains a critical challenge.

Maintenance and Sustainability

Building infrastructure is only half the battle. Ensuring ongoing maintenance and sustainable operation is essential for long-term impact. The AMA’s focus on revenue mobilisation through digitisation and property rate revaluation reflects recognition of this need .

Conclusion: A City in Motion

Accra is being rebuilt. From the ground up—literally—the city is shedding its old skin and emerging as a modern, connected, and increasingly liveable metropolis.

The transformation is visible at every scale. At the national level, the Accra-Kumasi Expressway will redefine connectivity between Ghana’s two largest cities . At the city level, the electric bus programme promises to rebalance mobility in favour of public transport . At the community level, renovated classrooms, upgraded clinics, and mechanised boreholes are improving daily life for thousands of residents .

The Green Digital City represents a bold vision for the future—a planned urban centre that will decongest the capital while creating new economic opportunities across three regions . The Airport Terminal 2 remodelling positions Accra as a premier gateway to West Africa . And the Ofankor-Nsawam road, once complete, will smooth the flow of goods and people to the northern parts of the country and beyond .

These projects are not happening in isolation. They are part of a coordinated strategy—the Big Push, the 24-Hour Economy, the Accra Reset Initiative—that recognises infrastructure as the foundation of economic transformation .

Challenges remain: encroachment, delays, funding constraints, and the eternal challenge of maintenance. But the direction is clear. Accra is not just growing; it is being intentionally, strategically reshaped into a city that can meet the demands of the 21st century.

For residents, business owners, and visitors, the message is unmistakable: Accra is building its future, and the foundations are being laid today.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What major road projects are currently underway in Accra?
Key road projects include the Accra-Kumasi Expressway (198.7 km, six lanes, reducing travel time to 2.5 hours), the Ofankor-Nsawam road (33.4 km with four interchanges, 80% complete), and the Pantang-Abokobi road rehabilitation (8.6 km, 18-month timeline) .

2. When will Terminal 2 at Accra Airport be completed?
The $18 million Terminal 2 remodelling project is scheduled for completion by July 2026. The terminal will handle both domestic and international flights, reducing congestion at Terminal 3 .

3. What is the Green Digital City project?
The Green Digital City is a new urban centre straddling Greater Accra, Eastern, and Volta regions that will house relocated government offices and key institutions to decongest Accra. Accra will remain Ghana’s capital .

4. Is the Accra-Kumasi Expressway actually happening?
Yes. The project was announced in President Mahama’s February 2026 State of the Nation Address. Feasibility studies and design work are ongoing, with construction expected to begin later in 2026 under a 50-year concession arrangement .

5. What community-level infrastructure projects is the AMA undertaking?
The AMA has begun six projects including renovation of a nine-unit classroom block at Private Odartey Lamptey Basic School, upgrades at Makola Clinic, road improvements on Kwame Nkrumah Avenue, and drilling of 10 boreholes in Ablekuma South schools .

6. What is being done about Accra’s traffic congestion?
The AMA plans to introduce city-owned electric buses operating on major routes at low fares as part of a wider metro transport system. Longer-term plans include high-capacity systems for congested corridors .

7. How is the Ofankor-Nsawam road project progressing?
The project is approximately 80% complete, with most parts asphalted and storm drains finished. Completion is targeted for July 2026, following a $77 million government release in August 2025 .

8. What is the timeline for the Pantang-Abokobi road?
Rehabilitation work began in March 2026 and is expected to take 18 months. The project involves widening, drainage improvements, and complete resurfacing .

9. How are these infrastructure projects being funded?
Funding sources include direct government investment under the Big Push initiative, concession arrangements (Accra-Kumasi Expressway), District Assemblies Common Fund, and AMA’s Internally Generated Funds .

10. Will the new Green Digital City become Ghana’s capital?
No. President Mahama has clarified that Accra will remain Ghana’s capital. The new city will house relocated government offices but not replace Accra as the seat of government .