Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, Finance Minister, has announced plans for the construction of a 3.5-kilometre Ekye-Amanfrom Bridge over the River Afram, set to become the longest bridge in Ghana, during his presentation of the 2026 Mid-Year Budget Review to Parliament on July 23, 2026.
The announcement addresses decades of transport challenges facing residents of the Kwahu-Afram Plains, who have historically relied on ferries to cross the river.
Dr Ato Forson described the long-standing reliance on ferries as a source of persistent disruption for communities in the area, citing frequent delays and seasonal interruptions that have hampered the movement of people, goods, and essential services.
“The 3.5 km Ekye-Amanfrom Bridge over the River Afram permanent bridge will be the longest in Ghana and will replace the ferries, providing a safe, reliable, and all-weather crossing”.
Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, Finance Minister
Part of Ghana’s Big Push Infrastructure Agenda
The bridge forms part of the government’s broader Big Push infrastructure programme, with Dr Ato Forson explaining that the project would connect the Kwahu-Afram Plains to the national road network, unlocking the economic potential of one of Ghana’s most significant food-producing regions.
Dr Ato Forson highlighted the direct economic benefits the bridge is expected to deliver to farmers in the area, particularly those cultivating staple crops that depend on efficient transport to reach urban markets.
“The bridge will make it easier for farmers to transport maize, cassava, yam, rice, and other produce to market, reducing travel time. It will also improve access to healthcare, education, and other essential services, while creating jobs, attracting investment, and supporting food security”.
Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, Finance Minister
According to Dr Ato Forson, the bridge project is expected to be completed by the end of 2028, positioning it as a medium-term infrastructure investment with long-term implications for the Afram Plains region.
Dambai Bridge Progresses Alongside Eastern Corridor Development
Dr Ato Forson also updated Parliament on progress at the Dambai Bridge, a separate but related infrastructure project intended to provide a permanent crossing between Dambai and Dodi-Kope while strengthening transport connectivity along the Eastern Corridor.
He detailed the physical scope of the project, which comprises a 1.49-kilometre bridge alongside approximately 6.8 kilometres of approach roads. According to the Minister, fiscal progress on the project had reached 6 percent by the end of June 2026.
Roads Minister Calls Bridge His Defining Legacy Project
Following the Finance Minister’s announcement, Minister of Roads and Highways Kwame Governs Agbodza offered his own reflections on the significance of the bridge project, describing it as the achievement he most looks forward to inviting President John Dramani Mahama to commission.
“For generations, thousands have relied on ferries, enduring long queues, delays, uncertainty, drownings and other avoidable hardships just to cross. Soon, that chapter will come to an end thanks to President John Dramani Mahama’s Big Push agenda, which I am privileged to lead. When completed, this will be the longest bridge in Ghana”.
Minister of Roads and Highways Kwame Governs Agbodza
Hon Agbodza spoke about the project in deeply personal terms, describing how he hopes to be remembered by future generations for his role in delivering the bridge during his tenure as Roads Minister.
“When one day I am no longer Ghana’s Minister for Roads and Highways, and my children and grandchildren ask what legacy I left behind, I want to be able to look them in the eyes and say, when President John Dramani Mahama entrusted me with the responsibility to serve, we built the Adawso-Ekye Amanfrom Bridge, the then longest bridge in Ghana, connecting communities, creating opportunities, and replacing the ferry with a permanent, safe, and reliable crossing for the people”.
Minister of Roads and Highways Kwame Governs Agbodza
He tied this personal reflection to a broader philosophy of public service, framing infrastructure delivery as a measure of genuine impact on people’s lives. “That is the true meaning of public service, delivering infrastructure that changes lives and serves generations yet unborn. The people have waited long enough and their smiles are coming,” he said.
The Ekye-Amanfrom Bridge stands as one of several major infrastructure commitments unveiled during the 2026 Mid-Year Budget Review, reflecting government’s continued emphasis on connecting historically underserved regions to the national road network under the Big Push programme.
Alongside the Dambai Bridge project progressing along the Eastern Corridor, the announcement signals sustained investment in transport infrastructure across Ghana’s eastern regions, with the Afram Plains bridge in particular expected to reshape economic opportunities for one of the country’s most agriculturally significant areas once construction concludes in 2028.
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