The Ghana Railway Development Authority with the
Ministry of Transport has formulated a master-plan aimed at revamping the
almost-dead railway sector.
Mrs. Joyce Mogtari, the Deputy Minister of
Transport, said the plan seeks to rehabilitate, modernise, and expand Ghana's
ailing rail network, thus recognising the economic benefits of rail transport.
Currently, out of the 947km track length, only
130km is operational with freight services as well as passenger service.
The Deputy Minister, addressing the National
Executive Council Meeting of the Railway Workers Union of the Trades Union
Congress, said government through its sole resources is reconstructing the
Takoradi/Sekondi via Kojokrom sub-urban lines to ease road traffic.
Mrs. Mogtari said due to the capital intensive
nature of the rail line project, government is looking at the Public Private
Partnership approach, explaining that this alternative financing arrangement
will ensure adequate investment in the provision and maintenance of various
infrastructure and services.
The minister announced an increment in the
salaries of rail workers as a measure by the government to alleviate some of
their economic burdens.
She urged them: "Refrain from any activities that
will worsen an already bad situation, such as granting leases, and selling off
railway lands and assets".
Mr. Godwill Ntarmah, General Secretary of the
Union, said the history of Ghana's economic development cannot be written
without mention of the rail sector.
Also, he said, trains continue to play a pivotal
role in the progress of most advanced countries, and empahsised the need for
the sector to be revived toward national economic growth.
Additionally, he said, rail transport is also
cheaper to operate and more affordable.
Mr. Benjamin Amofa, Managing Director of the Railway
Authority, said the sector could be self-reliant with even 100,000 tonnes of commodities,
and called for the immediate repair of lines and appropriate investments into
the sector.
No comments:
Post a Comment