The General Secretary for the Ghana Railway Workers Union, Benjamin Essuman has disclosed that about eleven (11) kilometers of the single gauge rail line on the Western Rail Line has been destroyed by illegal miners, popularly referred to as “galamseyers”.
The most affected section of the rail line runs from the Akyem to Nsuta, in the Tarkwa Nsuaem Municipality of the Western Region.
The Ghana Railway Company Limited has for some years, suspended operations on the Western Rail Line due to some technical and financial challenges. The section vandalized by these illegal miners is an integral part of the rail line supporting the haulage of manganese to the Takoradi Port.
The company has been expectant of having the rail line rehabilitated into a standard gauge to enhance operations. With this development, it is feared that government’s effort to reconstruct the rail line could delay.
Speaking exclusively to Media General’s Takoradi-based-radio station; Connect 97.1FM, Benjamin Essuman said the Ministry of Transport, and the Ghana Railway Development Authority have full knowledge of the situation. He mentioned that a delegation, according to the sector minister, has been deployed to assess the impact and accordingly, advise the Ministry on the way forward.
“We know that rail line has deteriorated but that does not mean it’s no longer useful to us. We’ve had our first meeting with the Transport Minister, and according to him, they have taken steps to address this. They have promised to get us feedback within the week or next.
“About 11 kilometers of the rail line has been destroyed. We were expecting some rehabilitation works to commence on this line so we can start hauling manganese…and now see what has happened,” he expressed his frustration with the situation.
The General Secretary of the Workers Union avers the situation is beyond their control, and that the respective state actors have taken up the responsibility to resolve it.
“This galamsey issue is beyond our control. As you know, we are financially constrained, and that is the reason we have notified the Ministry to intervene,” he added.
Investment to Redevelop the Western Rail Line
The Western Rail Line is undoubtedly the lifeline of the Ghana Railway Company Limited. It is a major infrastructure facilitating the haulage of precious minerals to the Port of Takoradi. Successive governments have attempted to redevelop the old narrow gauge single line into a standard gauge, and also to connect to the Boankra Inland Port in the Ashanti Region.
In July 2022, former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo Addo broke ground for the construction of a 78-kilometer standard gauge via the Western rail line; running from Manso to Huni Valley.
The project was estimated at EUR 500 million, with a completion schedule of 42 months.
Amandi Investment Ltd was awarded the contract, with the scope of works including construction of railway stations, supply of rolling stock as well as workshop equipment. Interestingly this project remains uncompleted.
