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The President of the Republic, Nana addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, on Tuesday, 5th July 2022, cut the sod for the graduation of labor on the development of the five hundred-million-euro (€500 million) Manso-Huni Valley segment of the Western Railway.
Describing it as the very best unmarried funding for rail improvement since Ghana gained independence, President Akufo-Addo indicated that the mission is anticipated to be finished within forty-two (42) months.
Addressing the public at Manso, withinside the Amenfi Central District, the President bemoaned the reality that one of the incredible tragedies of Ghana’s post-colonial technology changed into permitting her railway infrastructure, evolved under colonial rule, to deteriorate completely. According to him, out of the nine hundred and forty-seven kilometres (947km) of colonial slender-gauge rail community bequeathed through the colonialists, slightly ten percent (10%) changed into operational.
Indeed, the most effective addition to the community has been the fifteen kilometre (15km) slender gauge railway line, constructed 2012 and 2017, from Sekondi to Takoradi thru Kojokrom. President Akufo-Addo referred to that, upon his assumption of office in January 2017, he changed into decided to alternate this statistic, due to his notion in the reality that an efficient railway system is essential to the development and prosperity of Ghana, the purpose why he re-established the Ministry of Railways Development.
“The ground-breaking event involved in today’s ceremony is an integral part of the series of infrastructural projects lined up to expand the provision of railway services. Key amongst the rail projects, currently on-going, are the development of a new standard gauge railway line between the Port of Tema and Mpakadan in the Asuogyaman District of the Eastern Region. This project has reached an advanced stage of completion, and will soon be handed over to Government for operation,” the President said.
He noted also that the development of the Western Railway Line is on course, with the twenty-two (22) kilometre section of the line from Kojokrom to Manso proceeding steadily, and scheduled for completion before the end of this year.
“I am delighted that, even before the completion of this section, I am here today to cut the sod for work to commence officially on the continuation of construction works for the development of the line from Manso to Huni Valley, which covers some seventy kilometres (70km),” President Akufo-Addo added.
The Manso to Huni Valley project includes the conversion of dual gauge tracks, between Takoradi and Kojokrom, from narrow gauge to standard gauge. The construction of a new eight kilometre (8km) standard gauge rail line within the Takoradi port to the Takoradi station, in order to have a continuous standard gauge connection from the Port to the Nsuta Bauxite Mining Site and other mines, will help facilitate the haulage and export of minerals.
These projects, amongst several others in the pipeline, which will commence soon, he said, “confirm the depth of commitment of my government to establishing a modern railway system in our nation. Government is committed to securing additional resources to complete the expansion of the new standard gauge rail network in the country, in line with the Railway Master Plan.”
President Akufo-Addo commended the Ministry of Railways Development, the Board, Management and Staff of the Ghana Railway Development Authority, and the Ministry of Finance for collaborating to raise the funds required for the implementation of the project.
The President also addressed a growing phenomenon that is retarding progress and efforts by Government in the railway sector.
“Apart from the activities of illegal mining, which is having a negative impact on the development of the right-of-way, particularly within the corridors of Manso and Amantin in the Tarkwa Nsuaem Municipality, leading to the modification of project designs and higher construction costs, some unpatroitic saboteurs in our communities have chosen to steal components of the railway system, including the tracks. This is exceptionally worrying, and of great concern to the rest of us Ghanaians,” he stated.
President Akufo-Addo, thus, sounded a strong word of warning to individuals perpetuating these criminal acts that the law will take its course, and the appropriate sanctions and punishment will be duly meted out to offenders.
Source: Ghanatodayonline.com
