The Coalition of Lots 1 Abidjan-Lagos Corridor Road Affected Persons on the Elubo-Apemanim ECOWAS project is demanding immediate payment of compensation for over 7,000 affected farmers, landowners, and developers from the Government of Ghana and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
After nearly three years of waiting, the Coalition has issued a communiqué calling on the Ghana Highway Authority and the Ministry of Roads and Highways to resume verification, valuation, and compensation for affected persons along the project site.
The Abidjan-Lagos Corridor Highway Development Project is a flagship infrastructure initiative under ECOWAS, spanning approximately 1,028 kilometres and connecting five West African nations Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, Benin, and Nigeria.
The highway is designed as a six-lane dual carriageway aimed at enhancing regional integration and boosting economic activities across the sub-region.
Lot 1 of the project covers the stretch from Abidjan in Côte d’Ivoire through to Elubo-Apemanim Junction in Ghana’s Western Region. Ghana’s section of the corridor is approximately 520 kilometres more than half of the entire route and is expected to affect about 32 communities.
For almost three years, affected landowners, property owners, and farmers along the right of way have been forced to abandon their projects and farmlands. According to the Coalition, project implementers conducted valuations on properties affected by the project and subsequently engaged affected land and property owners.
A list of affected landowners, developers, and farmers was compiled for corrections to be effected. The instruction from project implementers was that they had concluded modalities, and nobody should embark upon any new alignment on the demarcated area.
As a result, every farmer and developer who had begun planting cash crops or undertaking any infrastructure development on the said area ceased operations, awaiting compensation—which has not been paid two years after the first correction and verification exercise.
In June 2025, project officers organised community engagements that commenced from Apemanim, Abura, Ndetiem, Kamgbunli, Kikam, Samenye, and Anweafutu Junction in the Ahanta West, Nzema East, Ellembelle, and Jomoro Municipal and District areas respectively.
The officers assured affected persons that they would conduct final verification but have still not returned.
According to the project officers, all projects such as buildings, land for infrastructure, property, cocoa, oil palm, and rubber plantations should cease.
The Coalition petitioned the Ghana Highway Authority’s office in the Western Region regarding the payment of compensation in October 2025.
After three months without any response, the Coalition followed up to the Ghana Highway Authority office in Takoradi, where they were asked to write to the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Highway Authority and copy the Sector Minister.
Upon advice, the Coalition petitioned the CEO of Ghana Highways Authority and copied the Minister of Roads and Highways, the Regional Director of Ghana Highways Authority – Western Region, the Western Regional Minister, all four Members of Parliament along the stretch (Ahanta West, Evalue Ajomoro Gwira, Ellembelle, and Jomoro Constituencies), and all four Municipal and District Chief Executives of Ahanta West, Nzema East, Ellembelle, and Jomoro respectively.
The Coalition followed up to Accra and met with the CEO of Ghana Highways Authority, who directed them to the Director of Contracts. The Director assured them that affected land and properties were under valuation.
However, the Minister of Roads and Highways, Hon. Kwame Governs Agbodza, is reported to have said that the money for compensation is ready. Despite this assurance, the only response the Coalition has received from project officers particularly the Director of Contracts is “Very Soon”.
In April 2026, the Coalition petitioned the President of the Republic of Ghana through the Member of the Council of State for the Western Region during a durbar held in his honour at the Eastern Nzema Traditional Council.
In their communiqué to project implementers, the Coalition has outlined the following demands:
1. ECOWAS officials on the project must engage affected persons immediately, as was promised in June 2025, to avoid further action.
2. Compensation must be paid to affected owners immediately without delay, with a payment table published before the end of July 2026.
3. The Government of Ghana, led by His Excellency John Dramani Mahama, must instruct the Sector Minister to find alternative livelihoods to cushion affected persons for the loss of their livelihoods over nearly three years.
4. The ECOWAS Commission should intervene to help all affected persons.
5. Members of Parliament and District Chief Executives along the stretch must intervene for the affected persons.
The Coalition has warned that it will advise itself and begin to picket on the premises of the Ministry of Roads and Highways if the July 2026 deadline elapses without any evidence of payment.
By Ebenezer Atiemo
