The construction of the Dambai Bridge over the Oti River will commence this year under the Big Push Programme.

The project has received commencement certificates and is currently undergoing procurement processes to select contractors. 

President John Dramani Mahama disclosed this during his thank you tour to the Oti Region on Friday.

“I can assure you that this bridge will commence this year. And we will cut the sod for this bridge together,” he declared.

The President emphasized that the bridge is part of the government’s infrastructure development strategy for the region, which he described as “a key transit zone for food and goods from the north to the south” that “deserves focused and targeted investments.”

President Mahama also hinted that the Oti Region would receive its own University within his tenure. 

“Work has already begun with the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission and the Ministry of Education to identify the most feasible model of university and location,” the President told the gathering.

He described the planned university as “a center of excellence and a driver of regional innovation and economic transformation,” positioning it as a key component of his administration’s commitment to educational infrastructure in the newly created regions.

Beyond the bridge and university, the President outlined an extensive list of road projects currently progressing through procurement under the Big Push Programme. 

These include the upgrading of the Okadjakrom–Kwamikrom Road, Abotoase–Atonkor Road, and Kpasa–Tinjase Road, as well as rehabilitation of the Hohoe–Jasikan and Hohoe–Baika–Jasikan roads, and upgrading of the Nkwanta–Oti Damanko Road.

The President revealed that his government had selected 166 constituencies nationwide for focused road development, with plans to rehabilitate 10 kilometers of roads annually in each constituency. 

“In four years, we would have done 40 kilometers of roads in the 166 constituencies. And I’m pleased to announce to you that all the constituencies in the Oti region are included in the 166,” he stated.

The President also announced plans for a modern multi-purpose stadium in the Oti Region as part of the National Sports Development Plan covering all six newly created regions. 

He described the facility as “a hub for sports excellence, youth engagement, recreation, and job creation, while boosting the local economy, and also providing sportsmen for national assignments.”

Addressing administrative infrastructure gaps, President Mahama directed the Minister for Local Government Decentralization and Chieftaincy to prioritize completion of the delayed two-story Oti Regional Coordinating Council Administration Block. 

He also announced plans to construct an official residence for the Regional Minister under the Government Accommodation Redevelopment Scheme.

The President specifically mentioned the Eastern Corridor Road as “one of our country’s most strategic transportation links” and “a top priority under my administration,” while revealing plans to explore inland water systems to connect lake communities and facilitate trade and mobility across the region.

Mahama concluded his infrastructure announcements by noting that additional roads in the Krachi, Chumuru, and Guan Districts were currently undergoing technical costing with procurement processes to follow soon, demonstrating the comprehensive nature of his administration’s development plans for the region.

Throughout his address, the President emphasized that these infrastructure investments were part of his broader “reset agenda” grounded in “fairness, discipline, inclusion and accountability,” positioning the Oti Region’s development within his national transformation strategy.