Japan has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the construction of the Volivo Bridge over the Volta Lake, a major infrastructure project under Ghana’s Eastern Corridor road initiative.

The assurance was given by Miyazaki Katsura, Senior Executive Vice President of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), during a courtesy call on President John Dramani Mahama on Tuesday.

The proposed Volivo Bridge is a key component of President Mahama’s ambitious $10 billion “Big Push” initiative, which aims to invest $2 billion annually over five years in critical infrastructure, including roads, bridges, education, and healthcare.

The bridge is expected to significantly improve connectivity and boost economic activity along the Eastern Corridor.

“We are happy that the Volivo Bridge project is captured under the Big Push initiative,” Katsura said, adding that JICA remains committed to facilitating further discussions with the Japanese government to move the project forward.

She further disclosed that a JICA technical team will be deployed to Ghana in the coming weeks to assess the scope and additional funding requirements for the project.

President Mahama initially secured Japan’s interest in the project during an official visit to Tokyo in his previous term as President.

The renewed engagement underscores Japan’s sustained support for Ghana’s infrastructure development.

In addition, President Mahama has accepted an invitation to attend the 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) in August.

He indicated that he would use the platform to deepen bilateral cooperation and secure the necessary resources to commence construction of the bridge.

The Volivo Bridge project is seen as a transformative development that will not only complete the Eastern Corridor road network but also enhance trade and integration within the region.