Ghana signs railway infrastructure deal with South Africa

Minister for Railways Development and Member of Parliament for Sekondi, Joe Ghartey, says the government of Ghana and South African have reached an agreement that will see South Africa assisting Ghana in her strategic railway development agenda.

The technical corporation agreement essentially will have South Africa providing technical support to Ghana for the purpose of developing the country’s railway network and existing railway infrastructure.

In a press briefing at the Jubilee Lounge of the Kotoka International Airport upon arrival from South Africa with President Akufo- Addo after his three-day state visit to Johannesburg, the Minister said South Africa has a fairly developed railway network in her major cities such as Johannesburg and their assistance to Ghana to develop its railway transportation system is a welcomed development.

He added that an agreement is also to be signed between Transnet SOC Limited, South Africa’s state-owned railway company and Ghana’s Railway Company Limited. The agreement will see the rehabilitation of portions of the existing railway network in the country, possible construction of new railway tracks, the supply of rolling stock such as locomotives, coaches, power vans and other vehicles used for railway, the assembly and manufacture of rolling stock and other railway machinery in Ghana, capacity building, analysis and management of railway transport and several other areas of mutual interest.

Starting Point

As a start to the agreement, the Minister indicated that the South African counterpart, “will supply Ghana with one hundred wagons that will help the country to build four trains with twenty-five wagons each per train”. The four trains would then be used to revive the Accra-Nsawam and Tarkwa-Takoradi railway services. “Within two weeks the two countries represented by their respective railway companies will present a report on the partnership and complete negotiations to pave way for the agreement to come into force,” the Minister assured.