The Minority in Parliament has issued a statement clarifying that the ongoing Kumasi Inner Ring Road Improvement Project, recently highlighted by the
The Minority in Parliament has issued a statement clarifying that the ongoing Kumasi Inner Ring Road Improvement Project, recently highlighted by the Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, is not a new initiative of the current administration but one that was conceived and developed under the previous New Patriotic Party (NPP) government.
The clarification comes after Dr. Forson announced on social media that Ghana had secured a ¥3 billion (Japanese Yen) grant from the Government of Japan through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to fund the improvement of sections of the Kumasi Inner Ring Road.
The Finance Minister described the agreement as “good news for Oseikrom,” noting that the project aims to tackle severe traffic congestion and safety concerns in the Ashanti regional capital.
According to Ato Forson, the project will involve widening 3.2 kilometres of road between the Santasi and Ahodwo Roundabouts, upgrading key intersections with modern traffic lights, improving pedestrian walkways, and enhancing drainage systems.
It will also improve connectivity between Santasi Roundabout and the N8 highway.
Ato Forson stated that when completed, travel speeds on the route are expected to more than triple, drastically reducing journey times and improving freight and passenger movement across Kumasi.
He further acknowledged Japan’s longstanding support for Ghana’s infrastructure development and listed the Suame Interchange, the Sunyani Road Phase II, the Konongo Bypass, and the forthcoming 45km Kumasi Outer Ring Road as part of the government’s broader infrastructure agenda for the Ashanti Region.
However, in a press statement dated October 5, 2025, and signed by Kennedy Nyarko Osei, Ranking Member on the Parliamentary Committee on Roads and Transportation, the Minority emphasized that the groundwork for the Kumasi Inner Ring Road Improvement Project was laid before the current administration assumed office.
According to the Minority, “Preparatory works and engagements with JICA began as far back as March 2024 under the leadership of the NPP government.
Detailed technical assessments, project scoping, and financing discussions were all completed before the change of administration.”
The statement further explained that the project forms part of a broader strategic plan to fully dualize the Kumasi Inner Ring Road, with additional components such as the Southern Bypass being considered for further Japanese grant support and the Western Bypass included under the Sunyani Road Phase II project.
The Minority also noted that the primary objectives of the project — to expand road capacity, reduce congestion, and improve safety — were developed and finalized under the previous administration.
They therefore urged the current government to acknowledge the continuity of governance and avoid creating the impression that such projects are entirely new initiatives.
Despite setting the record straight, the Minority commended the government for sustaining and continuing the project.
“We commend the current administration for following through with this important initiative. It demonstrates the value of continuity in governance and the importance of completing projects that have long-term benefits for our people,” the statement read.
The Minority also called on the government to ensure the timely completion of other major road infrastructure projects inherited from the NPP government, including the Suame Interchange, Sunyani Road Phase II, and the Konongo Bypass.
“For the people of Kumasi and the Ashanti Region, what matters most is not who started a project, but that it is completed and improves lives through better infrastructure,” Kennedy Nyarko Osei concluded.
COMMENTS