Former Minister for Roads and Highways, Francis Asenso-Boakye, has mounted a spirited defence of the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) record on road infrastructure, insisting that Ghana’s road dualisation agenda was a strategic vision birthed and driven by the NPP – not the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
His comments follow recent announcements by President John Dramani Mahama that the Cabinet has decided to prioritise the dualisation of the country’s three major transport arteries—Accra–Kumasi, Accra–Takoradi, and Accra–Aflao—as part of his revived ‘Big Push’ infrastructure programme.
But Asenso-Boakye, writing in a widely circulated opinion, says the facts must be made clear to Ghanaians. According to him, the NPP under former President John Agyekum Kufuor was the first administration to fully appreciate the transformative power of dual carriageways for economic development, and it moved swiftly to implement that vision.
He stated, “This is not just about convenience—it is a national development necessity. The NPP laid the foundation when it dualised key sections like Circle–Achimota, Nsawam, Nkawkaw, and Ejisu–Kumasi.”
He blamed the NDC for stalling that vision when it took over in 2009. “During the NDC’s 8-year tenure, the vision was abandoned. Projects were halted, maintenance was neglected, and continuity was ignored,” Asenso-Boakye charged.
He contrasted that period with the efforts made by the Akufo-Addo-led government upon its return in 2017, noting that several long-stalled projects were revived and new ones were launched despite economic constraints, particularly after the COVID-19 pandemic.
He pointed to the Ofankor–Nsawam dualisation project and four strategic bypasses—Anyinam, Osino, Enyiresi, and Konongo—as clear indicators of the NPP’s commitment to decongesting towns and improving the free flow of goods and people. He also cited the Pokuase Interchange, Ghana’s first four-tier interchange, as a historic achievement that speaks volumes about the party’s foresight and execution.
“These are not random projects. They are part of a well-thought-out, long-term national strategy initiated by the NPP. While we welcome any effort to continue this agenda, we must be honest about who started the journey and who kept it alive,” he emphasised.
In what appeared to be a direct challenge to the Mahama administration’s ‘Big Push’ initiative, Asenso-Boakye called for continuity and truth in the infrastructure conversation. He urged the government to prioritise completing the ongoing bypass projects rather than reinventing the wheel.
“We support all genuine efforts to develop Ghana but let the record reflect: this journey began with the NPP. Let’s move forward—with truth, continuity, and results,” he wrote.
