Ghanaian satirist and political commentator Kwaku Sintim-Misa, popularly known as KSM, has taken a swipe at media personality and New Patriotic Party (NPP)-aligned commentator Okatakyie Afrifa-Mensah over his claims that the proposed Accra-Kumasi Expressway is a deliberate attempt to undermine the economic importance of the Ashanti Region.

Okatakyie has questioned the intentions behind the proposed expressway, arguing that the project could weaken Kumasi's position as a major economic centre serving communities in Ghana's middle belt and northern regions.

He believes the construction of the road could affect the region's economic fortunes, suggesting that the project is part of a deliberate plan to reduce Kumasi's importance as a commercial hub.

However, KSM has strongly rejected the argument, questioning how anyone could conclude that the expressway was being constructed specifically to frustrate Kumasi and diminish the Ashanti Region's economic influence.

Speaking on his show, the veteran satirist criticised Okatakyie Afrifa-Mensah's position, describing it as "jandam" and accusing him of trying to create disappointment among residents of the Ashanti Region over a road project that is expected to improve travel between Accra and Kumasi.

According to KSM, the argument appears to be politically motivated, with the aim of making residents of the region dissatisfied with the project in the hope of winning back support for the NPP in areas it lost during the last elections.

How Accra-Kumasi Expressway could hurt Ashanti Region - Okatakyie Afrifa-Mensah explains

“How can the expressway be designed for just one reason: that we want to frustrate and diminish the importance of Kumasi? How? This is all part of the jandam. The key focus of the jandam is to get as many people in Kumasi and the Ashanti Region as possible to be disappointed so that all the strongholds that the NPP lost in the Ashanti Region will come back,” KSM said.

He further dismissed the suggestion that the proposed expressway was intended to destroy the Ashanti Kingdom, insisting that the argument was unreasonable and could not be accepted by any right-thinking Ghanaian.

“So now, the level of ‘jandam’ is focused on the destruction of the Ashanti Kingdom. Please, it doesn't make sense. Everybody who is right-thinking in Ghana knows that thing does not make sense,” he noted.

Details of the Accra-Kumasi Expressway

The proposed 198.7-kilometre Accra-Kumasi Expressway is expected to provide motorists with a faster alternative route between the two major cities.

The road will begin at Ablekuma in Accra, connect to the Anyaa-Awoshie road and pass through several communities, including Adeiso, Asamankese, Akim Oda, Ayirebi, Ofoase, Enikawkaw, Gyadamwa, Achiase and Kwaso.

It will terminate at Sewua in the Ashanti Region, where it will connect to the Lake Bosomtwe road.

The project will comprise a 23.1-kilometre four-lane dual carriageway section within the two ring roads, while the remaining 175.6 kilometres will be developed as a six-lane dual carriageway expressway.

It will also feature eight interchanges, four service areas and two mainline toll stations.



AK/AM