Residents and workers who commute between Tema and Afienya have expressed excitement over the operation of the Tema–Mpakadan railway service, commending government for reviving rail transport along the corridor while calling for extended operating hours to serve afternoon and late-shift workers.
According to commuters, the train service has significantly reduced travel time, eased road congestion, and offered a safer and more reliable alternative to road transport.
“This train has really helped us. What used to take more than an hour in traffic now takes a shorter time, and it is less stressful,” one commuter said.
Others, however, appealed for additional trips later in the day to accommodate workers who close in the afternoon and evening.
“The service is good, but we need more operational hours. Those of us who close late still struggle to get home because the trains stop early,” another passenger noted.
Rail services on the Tema–Mpakadan rail line officially commenced in October 2025, under the Ghana Railway Development Authority, as part of the Ghana–Burkina Faso Railway Interconnectivity Project, aimed at improving transportation and trade between Ghana and its northern neighbours.
The rail line links Tema to Mpakadan, where domestic freight is transported onward via the Volta Lake to the northern parts of Ghana and Burkina Faso. The project is designed to create a multi-modal transportation network, integrating road, rail, and lake transport to boost mobility and trade.
Currently, passenger services operate between Tema and Afienya three times daily, serving hundreds of commuters along the route.
Interacting with passengers onboard, many praised the initiative and described it as timely, particularly in the face of rising transport fares and heavy traffic on the Tema–Afienya road.
Responding to the concerns raised, the Deputy Managing Director of the Tema–Mpakadan Railway Project, Albert Amankwah, said management is aware of the calls for extended operational hours.
“We have taken note of the concerns raised by commuters, especially regarding operational hours, and Management is working to address them,” Mr. Amankwah stated.
He, however, pointed out that the project continues to face significant challenges, including encroachment along the rail corridor and acts of vandalism.
“Some individuals deliberately place stones on the tracks in attempts to derail the train. These actions pose serious safety risks and must stop,” he warned.
Mr. Amankwah appealed to residents living along the rail corridor to help protect the infrastructure, stressing that public cooperation is critical to the sustainability of the service.
The Tema–Mpakadan rail line currently has seven train stations constructed along the route to facilitate passenger movement and support the growth of rail transport in Ghana.
