Refurbished locomotives are revenue-generating assets, not museum pieces — Transport Ministry tells NPP

Minister for Transport, Joseph Bukari Nikpe

The Ministry of Transport has dismissed claims by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Minority Transport Committee that the government's newly acquired diesel locomotives are outdated and unsuitable for Ghana's railway sector.

The NPP Transport Committee in a statement issued on June 25, questioned the age, maintenance requirements, commercial viability and operational readiness of the two diesel locomotives and 20 freight wagons recently acquired by the Ghana Railway Development Authority (GRDA).

In response, the ministry contended that the refurbished British Rail Class 56 locomotives remain commercially viable freight assets capable of serving the country for at least 15 years under a proper maintenance regime.

"Referring to the Class 56 locomotive as 'toys fit for the museum' is factually inaccurate and reflects a fundamental misunderstanding of railway engineering and locomotive operations," the ministry said in a statement issued on Thursday, July 2.

According to the ministry, the locomotives underwent extensive refurbishment in the United Kingdom before being exported to Ghana, including complete overhauls of their diesel engines, electrical traction systems, traction motors, bogies and braking systems, as well as the installation of modern railway communication and safety equipment.

It added that the locomotives were fully tested and certified before shipment and are backed by a five-year warranty against operational defects.

Responding to concerns over spare parts and maintenance, the ministry said the Class 56 locomotives continue to operate commercially in the United Kingdom and Hungary, making replacement parts readily available.

It further disclosed that GRDA has secured commitments from suppliers to maintain a five-year stock of fast-moving spare parts while foreign engineers have already arrived in Ghana to train local technicians and engineers.

The ministry also rejected the NPP's comparison between the newly acquired freight locomotives and the PESA diesel multiple units procured under the previous administration, arguing that the two categories of rolling stock serve different purposes.

It said the current administration acquired two heavy freight locomotives and 20 container wagons for about GH¢37.6 million, compared with approximately GH¢164.7 million spent by the previous government on two passenger trains.

"These are not decorative assets. They are revenue-generating freight assets designed to move containers and industrial cargo between Tema Port and Mpakadan, reduce the cost of logistics, ease pressure on Ghana's roads, support industrialisation and generate sustainable railway income," the ministry stated.