Mahama's air-conditioned suburban train service

Rail transportation has many advantages: moving passengers and cargo to ease pressure on our roads; transporting raw materials to the ports, etc.

It is also one of the safest mode of transportation and not affected by traffic congestion.

It was based on these advantages H.E. John Dramani Mahama committed to the redevelopment of the railway sub-sector in line with his government's completion of the Ghana Railway Master Plan.

The plan entailed the reconstruction and modernisation of the existing rail network in the southern half of the country to be followed by the extension of rail lines to the northern half.

In line with this, work on the Sekondi-Takoradi through to the Kojokrom railway line was completed. In addition, a modern train station was completed at Sekondi. Work also started and was completed on the Takoradi and Butuah Train Stations. Suburban rail services began on the Takoradi to Sekondi line, through Kojokrom in 2016 to ease the ever-increasing road congestion and reduce travel time between the twin cities.

The Ghana Railway Company deployed new air-conditioned diesel multiple train units on the line with bigger wheels that can run faster. It is very user-friendly and one do not need to climb a staircase before getting inside the train.The station platforms are also of the same height as the coach floor to make it more accessible to physically challenged persons.

The Front End Engineering Design (FEED) for the Western railway line from Takoradi to Kumasi with a branch line from Dunkwa to Awaso was completed. FEED for the Eastern railway from Tema through Accra to Kumasi commenced in phases and the Accra to Nsawam stretch began before President Mahama left office.

Such visionary leadership is very much needed to make Ghana the pride of Africa, and that is why I am happy the former president is contesting the 2024 presidential election. And I believe his next bid is going to be a doozy of brilliant collaboration of experience, competence and intelligence.

JDM is fascinatingly charming, impressively magical and powerfully iridescent, and I have no doubt that a second chance for him will be fructified. There are so much things to say about the young man from Bole in the coming days, so please stay tuned.

Anthony Obeng Afrane