Finance Minister Ato Forson has announced a significant infrastructure boost for Kumasi, following the signing of a ¥3 billion (Japanese Yen) grant agreement with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to upgrade the city’s Inner Ring Road.
Sharing the news on his social media page, the minister described the project as a major step toward easing chronic traffic congestion and improving mobility in the Ashanti regional capital.
“Today, I had the privilege of signing a ¥3 billion grant agreement with JICA for the improvement of the Inner Ring Road in Kumasi,” he wrote.
He explained that the Inner Ring Road plays a critical role in Kumasi’s transport network, linking the N6 and N8 highways and forming part of the Takoradi/Tema Ports–Ouagadougou Corridor.
However, rapid growth in traffic has turned key sections into major bottlenecks, resulting in frequent congestion, long delays, and safety risks for road users.
The project, he said, will address these issues through a comprehensive upgrade.
“It will widen 3.2 km of road between Santasi and Ahodwo Roundabouts, upgrade intersections with modern traffic signals, improve pedestrian facilities and drainage systems, and enhance connectivity between Santasi Roundabout and the N8,” he stated.
Dr. Forson added that the improvements will have a transformative impact.
“Travel speeds will more than triple, journey times will be cut drastically, and both passenger and freight movement will become far more efficient,” he noted, while expressing gratitude to JICA for its “generous support and continued partnership with Ghana.”
