Ghana, Japan sign U.S.$57 million deal for rehabilitation of roads

Ghana has received a US$57 million grant facility from Japan for the rehabilitation of the Yamoransa to Assin Praso road in the Central Region, and Bekwai-Anhwia Nkwanta-Kumasi roads in the Ashanti Region, also known as the N8 trunk road.

This was after the governments of Ghana and Japan signed an agreement following bilateral talks between President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and Japanese Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe. The signing was undertaken on behalf of Ghana by the Ambassador to Japan, Frank Okyere, and on behalf of the government of Japan by the Ambassador to Ghana, Tsutomu Himeno.

President Akufo-Addo stated that the rehabilitation of the N8 trunk road “would go a long way to facilitate the movement of goods and people, as well as open up that area of the country for development.” Japan, in 1994, completed the construction of the 176-km National Trunk Road N8, through an Official Development Assistance (ODA) loan to Ghana.

However, the rapid increase of traffic volumes resulted in the deterioration of some sections, and the Government of Ghana requested the rehabilitation. The project aims to rehabilitate the southern road section of the National Trunk Road N8.

Commending President Akufo-Addofor his Ghana Beyond Aid vision, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe reaffirmed Japan’s continued support to Ghana’s efforts at its socio-economic development in the areas of quality infrastructure development, strengthening of the foundation for industrial development including agriculture as well as for health and human resource development.

President Akufo-Addo also expressed his sincere gratitude to Prime Minister Abe for the recent signing of the Exchange of Notes for the project for Addressing Malnutrition in Ashanti and Northern Regions, and also for Japan’s support to human resource development and skills transfers in Ghana such as the National KAIZEN Project, the African Business Education Initiative for Youth (ABE Initiative), and the Project for Human Resource Development Scholarship (JDS).