Ghana and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) have reviewed progress on key road and bridge projects expected to generate about US$11 million in annual economic savings, during talks held on the sidelines of the IMF-World Bank Spring Meetings in Washington.
Ghana’s Finance Minister Cassiel Ato Forson met JICA officials to assess implementation timelines for two flagship infrastructure projects — the Kumasi Inner Ring Road and the Volivo Bridge — as the West African country pushes to ease transport bottlenecks and improve trade connectivity.
Discussions on the Kumasi Inner Ring Road focused primarily on execution rather than financing, as funding had already been secured earlier this year. In 2025, Ghana signed a grant agreement worth 2.96 billion yen (around $20 million) with Japan International Cooperation Agency, underscoring Japan’s continued support for the country’s transport sector.
The project targets chronic congestion in Kumasi, Ghana’s second-largest city and a key commercial hub. Rapid urban growth has placed pressure on critical intersections, particularly at Santasi and Ahodwo, where traffic delays have become a persistent constraint on mobility and productivity.
According to JICA’s feasibility analysis, the project is expected to deliver annual economic benefits of approximately $10.7 million. These include $6.67 million in travel time savings and $4.06 million in reduced vehicle operating costs, driven by improved traffic flow, faster travel speeds and lower fuel consumption.
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Planned works include the dualisation of a major stretch of the Inner Ring Road, upgrades to congested intersections, improved drainage systems and the installation of traffic management infrastructure. The implementation period is estimated at 39 months.
Beyond easing urban congestion, the project carries broader regional significance. The Inner Ring Road links the N6 and N8 highways, which form part of the strategic corridor connecting Ghana’s ports at Tema and Takoradi to landlocked countries in the Sahel, including Burkina Faso.
This corridor is also integrated into the West Africa Growth Ring, a regional transport network spanning Côte d’Ivoire, Togo and Burkina Faso. By improving traffic flow along this route, the project is expected to enhance freight movement, reduce transit times and support cross-border trade.
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The road upgrade also complements the planned Boankra Inland Port, which is expected to serve as a logistics hub linking Ghana’s seaports to domestic and regional markets. Authorities see the combined infrastructure investments as critical to positioning Ghana as a trade gateway in West Africa.
Talks also covered the Volivo Bridge project, another major infrastructure initiative aimed at improving connectivity across the Volta River. While details of the discussions were limited, officials indicated that timelines and implementation strategies were under review.
Japan has been a longstanding development partner for Ghana, particularly in infrastructure. Through JICA, it has financed several transport projects designed to improve mobility and support economic growth.
Among them is the Tema Motorway Roundabout Phase II Interchange — commonly known as the Tema flyover — a major grade-separated junction on the Accra–Tema corridor. Completed in 2020, the project significantly reduced congestion on one of the country’s busiest transport routes, improving traffic flow between the port of Tema and inland corridors.
The latest discussions come as Ghana seeks to strengthen infrastructure investment while maintaining fiscal discipline under its ongoing economic reform programme supported by the International Monetary Fund.
Officials say projects that deliver measurable economic returns — such as reduced travel time, lower transport costs and improved trade efficiency — are a priority as the government balances development needs with budget constraints.
For Ghana, the success of the Kumasi Inner Ring Road and Volivo Bridge projects will not only depend on timely execution, but also on their ability to unlock productivity gains across the wider economy.
As implementation moves forward, authorities hope the projects will deliver tangible benefits for businesses and commuters alike, while reinforcing the country’s role as a regional transport and logistics hub.
