President Akufo Addo Ignores Volivo Bridge, Asutuare Junction -Asikuma Junction Road Projects!!!

The John Mahama-led NDC Government in 2016 signed a $100-million (11,239 billion Yen) loan agreement with the Japanese Government through Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) for the construction of a 540-meter-long cable-stay steel bridge over the Volta River at Volivo, near Asutuare in Greater Accra and Dofor Adidome, near Juapong in the Volta Region.

This new bridge will precisely be located between Adomi and Sogakope bridges.

The agreement marks the resumption of the Yen loan portfolio after Japan suspended it when Ghana declared itself a Heavily Indebted Poor Country (HIPC) in 2001.

The project is expected to witness the construction of approach roads of 1,000 meters long, bicycle lanes, and ancillary facilities such as rest stops, a toll plaza, and navigation and illumination lights for aesthetic touristic value for the users.

The African Development Bank (AfDB) in another agreement will co-finance the construction of a new dual carriageway connecting Asutuare Junction [Greater Accra] to Asikuma Junction [Volta] over the Volivo Bridge.

Now, seven (7) long years after H.E. John Mahama had secured funding for the projects, nothing has happened as far as the Nana Akufo Addo government is concerned.

The Japanese contractors, I have gathered are only awaiting the Government of Ghana to construct approaches - access road from Asutuare/Volivo to the waterfront, and equally do the same on the other side from Dofor Adidome to the waterfront in order that the contractor can gain access to convey equipment to the project site for commencement of the project and that is taking forever to do.

Obvious that H.E. Nana Akufo Addo is not a President that is committed to the development of the Volta and Oti Regions and that partly explains why no government effort has been directed at the construction of the Volivo Bridge and the road linking Asikuma junction - Asutuare junction meant to improve transportation and ameliorate the suffering of the people in these regions.

The people of these regions cannot wait to have these projects done, requiring President Nana Akufo Addo to kick the projects into action.

The Volivo Bridge and the road project, according to former Finance Minister, Mr. Seth Terkper, in a larger sense seek to complement the government’s effort to develop the Eastern Corridor Road which is the shortest route connecting the Greater Accra, Volta, Northern, and Upper East regions and would open up the corridor and boost the export of Ghana’s non-traditional crops, mainly shear nuts, cocoa butter and mango.

He said the projects are also part of the larger government strategy of making Ghana the transportation hub of West Africa and that both projects would also help reduce travel time, congestion, and vehicle operating costs and directly improve the socio-economic well-being of the road users.

Writer: Koku Mawuli Nanegbe