Fund Accra-Kumasi Expressway with private capital, not state funds – Alan Kyerematen
Former Trade and Industry Minister and United Party (UP) leader Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen is advocating private-sector financing for the proposed US$4 billion Accra-Kumasi Expressway, arguing that government resources could be freed up for other infrastructure needs. Mr Kyerematen said commercially viable infrastructure projects such as the expressway should be structured to attract private capital, particularly where investors can recover their investment through toll revenues. Speaking at a public lecture at the British Council in Accra on the theme, “Transformation of the Ghanaian Economy: From Stability to Prosperity,” he questioned the decision to use public funds to finance the entire project. “You are using four billion dollars to finance a commercial road, which currently can be financed by the private sector. What happens in every country? Once the toll road is constructed, you don’t use government resources to fund it. It can pay for itself,” he said.