Commitment to Building Modern Railway Infrastructure Unwavering- President Akufo-Addo

President Akufo-Addo has stated that his administration’s commitment to building modern railway infrastructure across the length and breath of the country is unwavering and it remains a top priority of his administration.

He gave this assurance on Tuesday 6 December 2022, when he addressed the Chief, Elders and people of Afienya in the Greater Accra Region at the commissioning ceremony of the 900 meters road over bridge constructed as part of the construction of the Tema to Mpakadan railway line.

The Tema to Mpakadan railway line is a 97 km line which is the first section of the Ghana- Burkina Faso interconnectivity railway project.

“I want to reaffirm my commitment and determination to provide an enabling environment and support for the development of a modern r system that will not only benefit the current generation but also generations yet unborn.

“I would like to put on record that in the last five years of my administration, more construction activity in the railway sector has gone on than in any period since independence” President Akufo-Addo said.

“We have laid a solid foundation which will receive an even greater impetuous by the end of my tenure in 2025. My commitment to the development of a new modern standard railway network is unwavering” Akufo-Addo added.

Project completion timelines

In his address, President Akufo-Addo, noted that before attending the commissioning ceremony, he stopped over to inspect work on one of eight stopping points being constructed as part of the 97km Tema Mpakadan railway line.

He noted that the project consultant has assured him that the project will be completed by the first quarter of 2023 (March 2023).

“The project [Tema to Mpakadan railway line], will address the imbalance between transport routes for long distance transit and domestic freight movements from Accra-Tema Northwards and vise versa using the Volta lake transport system” President Akufo-Addo said.

“Not only will increase transit cargo volumes through the lake, but it will also expand domestic shipments to and from the lake and it will serve as a boost for agriculture enterprises within the environs of the lake” he added.

Poised to deliver

The Minister for Railway Development John Peter Amewu, in his brief statement noted that the Railways Ministry is poised to deliver railway infrastructure across the country for the use and benefit of the people of Ghana.

“This project is a clear witness of where the money government continues to borrow goes to.

“Government on its own generation its own resources but as a result of infrastructure deficit, it is necessary for government to look beyond and that is why government continues to borrow.

“Most of the borrowing undertaking by this government are borrowing that goes into development as we are witnessing” Peter Amewu said.