Parliament of the Republic of Ghana has concluded engagements on a “Design-Build Contract Agreement’’ between the country and BNIP-Janson-Adawso Consortium of Netherlands for the construction of a bridge over the Afram River in the Eastern region of the country.
The bridge when completed will facilitate easy and safe transportation on the tributary of the Volta Lake between Akyi Amanfrom and Adawso and surrounding communities in the eastern belt of Ghana.
The project is estimated to cause the Ghanaian government about Two Hundred Million Euros (€200,000,000.00).
The is part of a Three Hundred and Fifty Million Euros (€350,000,000.00) allocation by the house for the construction of a total of 124km road network in selected communities in the region.
Ghana Highway Authority, on behalf of the Ministry of Roads and Highways and the Government of Ghana entered into separate agreement with the Contracta Construction UK Limited to execute the projects.
These include the construction of 22 kilometre Takorowatwen- Akyi Amanfrom, 20 km Adawso-Kwahu Tafo and 29km Kwahu Tafo –Miaso stretches.
Others are 26km Miaso Begoro and Begoro- Obuho roads, all connecting the Adawso Bridge Project.
Chairman of the Committee on Roads and Transport in his report to the Ghanaian Parliament acknowledged the significance of accessible road infrastructure in the economic development of the country.
Hon. Kennedy Osei Nyarko noted that the transport sector is a strong driver in the country’s agricultural productivity.
The MP said the transport sector is major industry responsible for the transportation farm produce to the various market centres and serve as the front liner in the provision of all agricultural related services across the country.
Kennedy Osei Nyarko indicated that the Afram Plains enclaves is one of the country’s major food baskets and need accessible road network to ensure food security in the southern part of the nation.
Until the bridge is constructed, canoes and pontoon boat remain the only means of accessing the Afram Plains and its rich agricultural and tourism potentials.
