Japan to finance new bridge over Volta

Japan has announced the restoration of its YEN loan portfolio to Ghana, with the approval of a proposal for the construction of a new bridge across the Volta River, as part of the Eastern Corridor Road Development Project.

The announcement followed discussions between President John Dramani Mahama and the Japanese Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, in Tokyo.

Commenting on the announcement at a joint press briefing, after their meeting, President Mahama said: “This Bridge is part of our eastern corridor road network and will be critical in improving transportation between the Northern part of Ghana and the South.”

President Mahama also thanked the Government and People of Japan for the resumption of the YEN loan, noting further that the construction of the bridge and the signing of a contract for the development of the Sekondi Fishing Harbour Phase 2 project will contribute greatly to the expansion of the country's infrastructure to boost further growth.

Also announced at the press briefing was the approval by the Japanese government for the construction of a new Advanced Research Centre for Infectious Diseases at the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research at Legon.

An agreement was also signed for scholarship grants for young Ghanaians under the ABE (African Business Education) Initiative to help improve the human resource development of the Ghanaian youth.

President Mahama, who is in Tokyo on an Official Visit, earlier paid a courtesy call on Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko, in the company of the First Lady, Lordina Dramani Mahama.