A train traveling from Odorna Station in Accra to Tema derailed on Friday, June 6, after it collided with a cow that had been tied to the railway line at Avenor. No passengers were injured in the incident, but the cow died instantly.
According to eyewitness accounts, the cow had been left tethered to the railway track, and its owner reportedly failed to remove it in time before the oncoming train arrived. The train collided with the animal, resulting in a derailment that caused significant damage to the railway infrastructure.
“The train driver couldn’t stop in time. It hit the cow head-on and went off the tracks,” one eyewitness told reporters.
The impact damaged the tracks, beams, and shock absorbers, leading to a temporary suspension of services on the Accra-Tema railway line. The train, which usually transports over 300 passengers daily, remains stuck at the scene as efforts continue to return it to the tracks.
Encroachment a Growing Concern
When the news team visited the accident site, it was evident that the railway corridor has been heavily encroached upon. Structures, livestock pens, makeshift homes, and vendors have taken over large portions of land on and around the railway lines.
From Avenor through Alajo to Tesano East, the entire stretch of the Accra Tema railway line shows signs of extensive human settlement and commercial activity many operating within dangerously close proximity to the tracks.
Goats, rams, and cows were seen roaming freely along the tracks. In some cases, animals were tied directly to the railway lines, an alarming safety risk that contributed directly to Thursday’s derailment.
Local residents admitted that some squatters have even moved into the train coaches, using them as makeshift shelters within just 24 hours of the incident.
While the accident has renewed public calls for the enforcement of railway buffer zone regulations, some livestock traders in the area shifted blame to recent arrivals who they say moved into the community for the festive Eid season.
“We’ve been here for years without any problems. It’s these new people who tied animals carelessly. They don’t know how things are done here,” one livestock owner claimed.
Officials from the Ghana Railway Development Authority and other transport authorities were seen at the scene but declined to speak to the media. However, sources confirmed that an investigation is ongoing, and engineers are working to lift the derailed train and repair damaged sections of the track.
Until the train is restored to operation, the over 300 regular passengers who rely on the Accra Tema line for daily commuting will have to seek alternative means of transport.
The accident has once again highlighted the critical need for strict enforcement of the 50-metre railway buffer zone to prevent further loss of life and infrastructure damage.
