Fieldtrip Dijkstaal teams 2014

In the business case of Dijkstaal the participants need to find potential locations and propose a new financial structure to finance future financing of bridges.  So far, Dijkstaal has been able to build over 90 bridges in Ghana, subsidised with funds. In order to investigate new business opportunities, the Dijkstaal-teams have had several meetings with partners, business hosts and the Ghanaian ministry to investigate needs, wished and possibilities.  Intensive talks and quite a challenge to organize these meetings as well; contacting possible business partners takes a lot of networking. The contacts of the Ghanaian participants in the New Business Challenge were very useful and needed! The teams experienced it was difficult to get commitments, there a many other enterprises specialised in building bridges and the presence of a local contractor is highly recommended.

Important part of the business case was to bring a visit to potential locations for bridges, indicated by the Ghanaian ministry. First, the teams visited a location a few kilometres outside Accra, two small suburban villages. The two villages were split by a river, making it complicated to walk and travel between the two parts of the villages. During the visit the water was very low, pedestrians could wade through the water. But water level of the river could easily rise to 3 meters high, complicating traffic highly. Building a bridge between the two villages would facilitate pedestrians and cars to travel between the two villages and create more business opportunities for the area.

Subsequently, the field trip continued to Akatsi Levie, a two hour drive from Accra. There the teams have visited a bridge that was already built by Dijkstaal in 2009. The bridge was delivered in a ‘Meccano construction’,  and was built by a local constructor. An unique possibility to have a look at the construction works and see how the bridge is used. The teams have spoken to the supervisor of the bridge who was walking there by change. It provided them with very useful information about the use of the bridge and the change it has brought to the surrounding villages.