Japan reaffirms support for Volivo Bridge project
Japan has reaffirmed its commitment to finance the construction of the Volivo Bridge over the Volta Lake, a critical component of the Eastern Corridor road project.
The assurance was given by the Senior Executive Vice-President of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Miyazaki Katsura, during a courtesy call on President John Mahama at the Jubilee House last Tuesday.
The bridge, expected to complete the Eastern Corridor road network, is a key project under President Mahama’s $10 billion Big Push infrastructure initiative.
The initiative, outlined in the 2025 budget, seeks to invest $2 billion annually over the next five years in critical sectors, including roads, bridges, education and health care.
JICA’s commitment
Ms Katsura expressed satisfaction that the Volivo Bridge project was captured under the Big Push plan and assured President Mahama of JICA’s readiness to facilitate further discussions with the Japanese government.
“We are happy that the Volivo Bridge project is captured under the Big Push initiative,” she said, adding that a technical team would soon be dispatched to Ghana to assess the additional funding required for the project.
President Mahama had early on secured Japan’s commitment to fund the project on a visit to Tokyo during his previous term.
TICAD invitation
Ms Katsura also extended an invitation to President Mahama to attend the 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) scheduled for August this year.
President Mahama accepted the invitation and said his participation would provide an opportunity to engage with the Japanese government to secure the necessary funding for the construction of the bridge.
Project significance
The Volivo Bridge is anticipated to greatly improve transportation and trade along the Eastern Corridor, connecting the southern and northern regions of Ghana more efficiently.
Its completion will constitute a crucial component of the country’s infrastructure expansion under the Big Push programme.
President Mahama expressed optimism about the project’s progress and thanked Japan for its continued partnership in Ghana’s development agenda.
JICA has been a key development partner for Ghana, supporting various projects in infrastructure, health and education.
The financing for the Volivo Bridge aligns with Japan’s broader commitment to Africa’s growth, as demonstrated through initiatives such as TICAD.
President Mahama’s attendance at TICAD is expected to further strengthen bilateral ties and unlock additional investment opportunities for Ghana.
