Ministry Of Railway, Ghana Railway Company Visit Ongoing Tema-Mpakadan Construction Site

Ministry of Railway Development in collaboration with Ghana Railway Company Limited (GRCL) has started a comprehensive audit of all encoaches in the rail sector to identify and refurbish malfunctioning ones.

The Minister of Railway Development Hon. Joe Ghartey mentioned that the focus of the government was to build local expertise to help develop and sustain the rail industry in the country.

Mr. Joe Ghartey made this known when he paid a working visit to Tema to inspect of work on the Tema-Accra railway project last week.

He was accompanied by the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Railway Company Limited, Mr. Yaw Owusu, Afcons fabrications Limited, MCE of Kpone Katamanso, members of Ministry of Railway and Ghana Railway Company Limited.

Mr. Ghartey, cautioned persons stealing properties of the GRCL and those who had encroached on the rail lines to desist from such unscrupulous acts and also vacate from the area.

“While we are doing everything possible to preserve and improve on the rail sector, some people are stealing parts of the coaches and other materials. I want to send a friendly warning to such people that we will come after them wherever they are,” he stated.

Mr. Ghartey, further said that the Ministry of Railway Development and the GRCL would begin an exercise to clear all traders and other encroachers close to rail lines to pave way for a smooth of rail services, especially along the Tema- Accra tracks.

‘‘If we want to have longer lasting roads in this country, the way to go is to focus on the development of a robust rail sector to cart our goods and people to accelerate Ghana’s development,” he stated.

For his part, the Chief Executive Officer of the GRCL, Mr. Yaw Owusu, said due diligence was being followed to ensure value for money in the refurbishment of the coaches and the entire rail infrastructure system.

According to him, the construction of the Railway line from Team to Mpakadan must be a demolition exercise where up to 40 buildings will be affected.

Mr. Yaw Owusu disclosed that there would be no compensation paid to the affected Land or property owners because the land originally belongs to Ghana Railway Company Limited.