Minister of Railways, Joe Ghartey has indicated that the $398 million Tema-Akosombo railway project would be taking off in April 2017.
Mr. Ghartey made this known on Friday while addressing the media at Akosombo on an inspection tour.
The tour was to enable the Minister, contractors and consultants for the project find out where the rail line will end at Akosombo and also look out for a suitable place for the creation of an industrial hub within the area to ensure that the nation obtains great benefit from the project.
The sod-cutting ceremony for the railway will be done in March.
“We are about to start the Tema-Akosombo rail line. Part of the reason is that when the goods end at Akosombo they will go onto the water and move up to Buipe and then to Paga,” he said.
“But it’s our view that we shouldn’t have a situation where the goods just come here and that’s it,” Mr. Ghartey stated adding “we can create another economic activity here.”
“Rail is a means to an end. So we are saying that when it terminates here and joins the water we must be capable of creating some form of industrial park so that people can come and do business here,” he noted.
It would be recalled that Parliament in 2016 under the previous National Democratic Congress (NDC) approved the budget for the project which is 84.8 km single standard gauge railway line from Tema to Akosombo on an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) basis.
The project which forms the foundation of a planned multi-modal freight corridor, is a partnership between the Ghana Railway Development Authority (GRDA) and AFCONS Infrastructure Limited of India, with the latter as the financier.
The Minister announced that the project will be completed in 36 months vowing that he shall do all it takes to ensure the completion of the project on schedule.
He indicated also that government is considering the creation of a free zone at the Akosombo Lake Port.
DAILY GUIDE gathered that the project when completed will help expedite the movement of cargo from the Tema Port, which will in turn improve vessel turnaround time to make the port more competitive.
It is also expected to address the imbalance between transport modes for long distance transit and domestic freight from the south to the northern part of the country.
Works on the project will include the building of six rail stations at the Tema Port, Tema Industrial Area, Afienya, Doryumu/Kodiabe, Kpong and Akosombo.
Railway heads or terminals will also be constructed at Tema and Akosombo including the provision of operational facilities and loading equipment.
This is expected to ease the pressure on the road networks along the corridor
Furthermore, the project which is dear to the heart of the President Akufo-Addo-led New Patriotic Party (NPP) government, is equally expected to significantly reduce the cost of transportation of bulk commodities as well as offer an alternative and cheaper means of transport for passengers who ply that route.
Source: Daily Guide
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Fuel pipelines were lied from TOR in Tema to Akosombo BOST terminal in the 90's to ease Fuel Tankers plying the road. The pipe lines are now abandoned and corrupt officials are using big fuel tankers for transporting fuel to Akosombo, destroying the road. This railway line would be built but will never be profitable. The lake transportation is poor with ferries arriving at the Akosombo Port only once a week with limited cargo. We need to revamp the Volta Lake Transport Company(VLTC) with more ferries and barges to make the railway successful.
Jonas, can I make a small correction. it is a rehabilitation of existing line which is not functioning anymore. it is 1260km at a cost of £400m Our project is too expensive and wonder does the valuation for this country
Hon Minister, please if what Jonas is saying is anything to go by, quickly go ahead and check with the Ivoriene Embassy.Ghana can do do with 'value for money contracts'. Ghanaians would not for you and NPP government,if it turns out that you have collaborated with what the previous government was perceived to have 'mastered'. The Ridge Hospital, Nkrumah Circle (aka JDM DUDAI) and Kasoa Overpass costs are so fresh. Nana and Bawumia came clear on their costs and promised to protect the public purse. Do 'super due' diligence, otherwise you shall be linked with the "nanka we fo"('pathadder eaters'). WE ARE WAITING N WATCHING,to hear your report on this Abidjan- Ougadougou Railine link, for the benefit of Mama Ghana. Plenty grease to elbows.
Check with the French and Ivorian Embassy in Ghana, a French company is rebuilding the railway from Abidjan to Ougadougu for 400 million dollars a distance of 1400 kilometers. No harm in checking Hon Mr Ghartey.
For the east,accra to akosombo develop the rail ,the air transport system can be develop for the military,for commercial purposes the distance is short.Please develop accra nsawam section it will help reduce road traffic on amasaman stretch.It can be private run given to the state after 20 years.Also consider kasoa to join the nsawam accra rail.Go for private sector,give it to Ghanaian s so that the money will stay in the country.
Where are the goods. why not the western rail line rather. there is not enough goods from the north to warrant such a huge investment.
Good policy,economy about to boom