Bidding for Volivo Bridge project opens as construction expected in 2027

The government on Thursday, November 5, has opened the bidding process for the construction of the proposed Volivo Bridge over the River Volta as it takes steps towards advancing the long-delayed project.

The Minister for Roads and Highways, Governs Kwame Agbodza, who spoke at the opening of the bidding process, said actual construction work was expected to begin early next year, 2027.

The Volivo Bridge, when completed, will link Volivo and Dofor Adidome, improve trade and travel along the Eastern Corridor, and ease congestion on the Adomi Bridge.

The project was expected to begin after Ghana signed a ¥11.239 billion (about US$100 million) loan agreement with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) on December 8, 2016, to finance the bridge project.

However, delays related to procurement and project preparation have held back its progress over the years, despite an earlier bidding process having been conducted around the time the financing agreement was signed.

Agbodza said renewed cooperation between Ghana, JICA and the project consultants had helped accelerate the necessary processes, making Thursday's bid opening possible.

“This will be the most beautiful engineering bridge piece on the landscape of Ghana. This process started somewhere in 2015-2016. A full bidding process was carried out. We are hoping that towards the end of the year, early part of next year, actual construction work should be ready,” he said.

He acknowledged that the project had taken longer than expected, saying the latest milestone was achieved through cooperation with Ghana's Japanese counterparts and the consultants.

“We shouldn’t have been at this milestone yet, but working together with our Japanese counterparts and the consultants, we’ve been able to fast-track many of the processes leading to us having the opportunity to do the bid opening today,” he said.

The minister described the bridge as an important symbol of the cordial relationship between Ghana and Japan, expressing hope that its construction would demonstrate the strength of the partnership between the two countries.

He also urged the contractor who would be selected to work around the clock to ensure the timely delivery of the project, assuring that the government would provide the necessary support.

The Bridge

The Volivo Bridge is designed as a 540-metre cable-stayed bridge across the Volta River, making it one of Ghana's most significant planned transport infrastructure projects. The structure will feature a main span of about 280 metres, supported by twin towers rising approximately 51 metres above the river.