#2019Budget: 'Achimota-Nsawam rail line to be completed Dec.'

Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta has said the construction of the railway line from Achimota to Nsawam will be completed by December 2018.

Mr Ofori-Atta told parliament on Thursday, 15 November during the reading of the 2019 budget statement that works are far advanced to revamp the railway sector across the country.

He said: “Mr Speaker, now let me turn my attention to the development of railway infrastructure. The government, in 2018, commenced the rehabilitation of the existing 56-km narrow gauge line from Kojokrom to Tarkwa through Nsuta corridor to restore passenger rail and freight services for the first time since 2007. This will be completed in 2019.

“Work also commenced on rehabilitation works on the 70.8-km narrow gauge sections of the Eastern Railway Line from Accra to Nsawam and Accra to Tema. The Achimota to Tema section is 90 per cent complete and Achimota to Accra Central and Achimota to Nsawam will be completed by end of 2018. Rehabilitation will continue to Koforidua in 2019.

“The feasibility studies for the proposed 596-km Greenfield Railway Line from Kumasi to Paga, popularly known as the Central Spine, has been undertaken. Phase 1 from Kumasi to Buipe section will commence in 2019.

“Mr Speaker, the following feasibility studies commenced and will be pursued in 2019: rail link on BOT basis between the Tema Port and Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso; Development of Metro / Light Rail Transit Systems in Accra and Kumasi such as the recently signed Accra Sky Train project; Trans-ECOWAS line from Aflao through Cape Coast to Elubo; and Re-development of the Central Line from Kotoku in the Greater Accra Region to Huni Valley in the Western Region.

“Mr Speaker, the Railway Location Workshop, also at Essikado, is being modernised and equipped and will be completed in 2019 to become a one-stop workshop to serve the railway, mining, petroleum and agricultural industries. We are confident, 2019 will witness the relaunch of the railway system in Ghana.”