Gov’t signs £43m bridge project with UK

Government has signed a deal with UK firm Mabey Bridge to construct 89 bridges at a cost of £43million.

As part of the UK-Ghana partnership, the British High Commission said Mabey Bridge, will facilitate modular, steel, emergency-response bridges to restore critical infrastructure.

British High Commissioner to Ghana Iain Walker said: “Developed at the third UK-Ghana Business Council in 2019, this deal will improve connectivity for communities across the country, making the daily journeys to school and work both safer and faster.

“Together we are committed to creating opportunities that move beyond aid and towards the trade and investment relationships which drive economic growth and local job creation.”

It was a key part of discussions at the third UK-Ghana Business Council held in Accra in October 2019.

The project is expected to improve connectivity for rural communities enabling quicker, safer and more efficient access to employment, education and healthcare.

CEO of Mabey Bridge Michael Treacy noted that:  “Sustainable, climate-resilient infrastructure is critically important to post-disaster recovery and rehabilitation, and we very much look forward to working in partnership with the Ghanaian government to deliver this ambitious programme.

The bridges will be designed, manufactured and built over a two year period. The programme will provide full technical support to assist with the local project management of every bridge.

He said an expert training team would also ensure that local engineers working on every bridge have the knowledge and expertise needed to build such specialist bridges.

Commenting on the development, Her Majesty’s Trade Envoy for Ghana Adam Afriyie explained that the project shows the UK’s ability “to mobilise the best of our shared expertise, with the technical skills to offer world-class solutions, to the increasing need for improving infrastructure in Ghana to support its development”.

British company, Mabey Bridge, has already installed modular steel bridging solutions to more than 150 countries across the world and has extensive experience in the delivery of comprehensive financed bridging programmes in support of rural and urban infrastructure development.

Over the last month, representatives from the British High Commission also witnessed the signing of a contract between the Ministry of Roads and Highways and BHM that will see the construction of a major road system.

Working with Nurizon International of the UK and Aurecon Africa alongside the Ministry of Roads and Highways, BHM will construct the Tema – Aflao project between 2020 and 2024. The project is likely to employ more than 500 Ghanaians providing them with extensive training.