Efforts to bring the long-awaited Volivo Bridge project to life have taken a major step forward following the opening of fresh tenders for the crucial Eastern Corridor infrastructure link.
A consortium of three prominent Japanese construction giants—operating under the banner JST Venture—has officially stepped forward with a joint proposal to construct the bridge across the Volta River. The group, which comprises JFE Engineering Corporation, Shimizu Corporation, and Toa Corporation, backed its submission with a US$2.3 million bid security.
The development offers renewed hope for a project that has languished for years despite earlier procurement attempts. Speaking at a short bid-opening ceremony in Accra, the Minister for Roads and Highways, Kwame Governs Agbodza, acknowledged the set-backs that previously stalled progress after a prior tender attempt collapsed nearly a decade ago.
“This process started somewhere 2015-2017. A full bidding process was carried out. A contractor was actually selected but somehow, we couldn’t execute the project so the whole process fell apart,” he revealed.
Minister Agbodza pointed out that renewed collaboration with Japanese partners alongside project consultants helped streamline the technical prerequisites, laying the groundwork for the current bidding round.
With the tender box now unsealed, officials are set to fast-track technical and financial evaluations to ensure ground-breaking takes place within the coming months.
“On this day, the new bid for the Volivo Bridge over River Volta has been opened and God willing, we are going to be able to select the contractor that will start the work,” Agbodza added, voicing optimism that full-scale construction will commence towards the end of 2026 or early 2027.
Once completed, the Volivo Bridge will serve as a critical arterial connection across the Volta River, enhancing trade routes, cutting transit times, and strengthening economic integration along the Eastern Corridor road network.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana