Can a New Road Really Kill Kumasi Businesses? Heated Debate Erupts Over Accra-Kumasi Expressway

A serious war of words has broken out over the planned construction of the Accra-Kumasi Expressway, with two prominent voices clashing on whether the project will help or hurt the Ashanti Region. The debate started after Okatakyie Afrifa Mensah claimed that President Mahama intends to collapse businesses in the Ashanti Region by building the expressway. His comments sparked a strong reaction from Solomon Owusu, who has fired back, saying the expressway will actually boost the economy, not destroy it.

According to Solomon Owusu, good roads are the backbone of a strong economy. He argued that building a modern expressway will improve economic activities, make it easier to transport goods, and create fresh opportunities for businesses in Kumasi and across the Ashanti Region. For the ordinary trader or business owner, better roads mean faster deliveries, fewer delays, and more customers—all of which help a business grow rather than collapse.

Solomon Owusu did not stop there. He took a swipe at the previous government, stating that many businesses in Kumasi actually collapsed under the Akufo-Addo and Bawumia administration. He blamed this on high interest rates and difficult economic conditions, explaining that many business owners simply could not survive and were forced to shut down due to what he described as poor governance.

He further added that the current Mahama government has been able to stabilise the economy and create a better environment for businesses to grow in the Ashanti Region. This, he believes, is the kind of support local businesses need, and the expressway will only add to that progress by connecting the region to more markets and opportunities.

The debate highlights a bigger question on the minds of many Ghanaians: does building big infrastructure help or hurt local businesses? While some fear change, others see it as a doorway to growth. For now, the conversation continues, and many in Kumasi will be watching closely to see how the expressway project unfolds and whether it truly brings the economic boom that Solomon Owusu is promising.