Ghana news: Major metamorphosis in railway sector

Ghana's railway sector is getting a major metamorphosis, following the injection of more resources to resuscitate the sector.

President of Ghana Nana Akufo-Addo opined at his second media encounter at the Jubilee House in Accra on December 19 that the Ghana Railway Company Limited (GRCL) had commenced rehabilitation works on the 70.8 kilometres narrow gauge section of the Eastern railway line from the capital city Accra to Nsawam (capital of the Akuapim South Municipal District) and Accra to Tema (a city on the Bight of Benin).

"We are not only rehabilitating the old narrow-gauge line. I am happy to report that the procurement process is far advanced to develop a new standard gauge line for the Eastern railway line and others for us to have a network that covers the whole country," Nana Akufo-Addo said, as reported by Graphic Online.

He further added that he touched to see the workers' enthusiasm when he went ahead to check the work progress on the railway lines. According to him, the workers are expertized, hence they do not require any foreign experts.

He also appealed to all Ghanaians "to join in and be part of this exciting development and not place any hindrance in the path of bringing modern railways to our country". He also reminded saying that the rehabilitation of the Achimota (a town in the Accra Metropolitan district) to Tema section of the line was approximately 90 percent complete and test runs had commenced.

"We are resurrecting the railways. The existing narrow-gauge network, which had almost disappeared and led to a generation of young Ghanaians hardly knowing about railways, is coming alive," he emphasised.