Gov’t Secures $21m EU Grant to Fix Faulty Tema–Mpakadan Rail Signalling After Audit Exposes Gaps

The Ghana Railway Development Authority (GRDA) has announced that government has secured a $21 million grant from the European Union Commission to complete outstanding technical works on the Tema–Mpakadan railway line, following growing concerns about the corridor’s readiness for full commercial operation.

According to the Authority, a forensic audit conducted under the current administration revealed that several critical systems were incomplete or non-functional at the time the line was commissioned. These include the signalling system, public address system, level crossing controls, and point machines — all essential for safe and efficient train movement.

Officials say the findings raised serious questions about the line’s ability to operate reliably without further upgrades.

At a press briefing, GRDA Chief Executive Officer Dr. Frederick Appoh disclosed that government successfully secured funding under the European Union Sustainability and Interoperability Grant Scheme for Africa after a competitive process.

He said the grant will be used specifically to complete and upgrade the signalling infrastructure, including the installation of an ETCS Level 1 system, to ensure full operationalisation of the corridor.

“I am happy to announce, through the directive of the Minister for Transport, Joseph Bukari Nikpe, and the technical team of GRDA, that we competed for the European Union Sustainability and Interoperability Grant Scheme for Africa. I am happy to announce that we have been awarded 21 million US dollars by the EU Commission as a grant to fix the signalling system with ETCS Level 1,” he said.

The funding is expected to accelerate efforts to bring the Tema–Mpakadan line into full commercial service and significantly improve safety, reliability, and efficiency along the corridor — a key component of Ghana’s broader railway modernisation agenda.

— CitiNewsRoom