Ghana receives $57m Japanese grant for N8 highway

The Japanese government has given Ghana a grant of $57 million for the rehabilitation of phase two of the National Trunk Road, N8. This was after the governments of Ghana and Japan signed an agreement following bilateral talks between President Nana Akufo-Addo and Japanese Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, on Tuesday as part of the African leader’s 3-day official visit to Japan. Phase Two of the N8 trunk road project comprises the road network from Yamoransa to Assin Praso, in the Central Region, and Bekwai-Anhwia Nkwanta-Kumasi roads, in the Ashanti Region. The signing was undertaken, on behalf of Ghana, by Ambassador to Japan Frank Okyere, and, on behalf of Japan, by Ambassador to Ghana Tsutomu Himeno. Speaking after the signing of the agreement, 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. It will be recalled that Japan, in 1994, completed the construction of National Trunk Road N8, through an Official Development Assistance (ODA) loan (176km) to Ghana. However, the rapid increase of traffic volumes resulted in the deterioration of some sections of the road and the government of Ghana, as a result, requested for rehabilitation. The project aims to rehabilitate the southern road section of the National Trunk Road, N8, in Ghana. Ghana-Japan co-operation Commending President Akufo-Addo for 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, amongst other initiatives. He indicated that “Ghana holds a strategically important position in the West Africa Growth Ring Corridor Development to enhance connectivity and promote economic activities in the sub-region”. The two leaders reaffirmed the importance of promoting resilient health systems towards the achievement of Universal Health Coverage (UHC), as a prerequisite for Ghana’s human security and growth, and expressed their intention to discuss the issue as one of the focused areas at TICAD7. President Akufo-Addo also expressed his sincere gratitude to the Japanese leader for the recent signing of the Exchange of Notes for the project for addressing malnutrition in the Ashanti and Northern regions. He also thanked him for Japan’s support to human resource development and skills transfers in Ghana. The two leaders reaffirmed the importance of a comprehensive reform of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) including the expansion of both permanent and non-permanent categories of its membership. This is in order to make it more legitimate, effective and representative, reflecting the realities of the international community in the 21st century. Source: editors.3news.com| Ghana