Government officials inspect Tarkwa-Takoradi railway lines

The Minister for Railway, Mr. Joe Ghartey, the Member of Parliament for Tarkwa-Nsuaem, leadership of the Ghana Railway Authority and other government officials have inspected the Railway lines from Tarkwa to Nsuta which forms an imperative part of the Western Railway Line.

Before the inspection, The sector Minister and Hon. George Mireku Duker were hosted on the Tarkwa based radio station, Adwinpa FM 100.7MHz where the details of the rehabilitation of the Railway sector and the eventual operations of the Tarkwa-Takoradi rail lines were outlined.

During the interview the Minister hinted that, since the sector needs a level of expertise to execute its core duties, an MoU has been signed between Ghana Railway school and University of Mines and Technology, (UMaT) to introduce Railway Engineering as a new course at UMaT.

He added that, government recognized the role of the railways in transporting people, goods and services to various destinations and hence, government is taking steps to ensure that railways in the Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipality and the country at large is rehabilitated so as to ease traffic congestion on our roads. The Minister hinted that, the Ministry is diligently working to pick an investor for the construction of the Eastern Railway line project by July this year.

He added that, a group of experts are on their way to Ghana test the integrity of the lines, an exercise which is considered a double check as far as engineering standards are concerned.

He warmed encroachers occupying railway lands to vacate immediately to enable the railways company execute their work diligently and faster.

On his part, the MP for the area, Mr. George Mireku said the development of the country’s railway sector actively remains a topmost priority of the Akufo Addo’s administration and therefore, the Ministry is on course to ensure this is done to provide safer and cheaper means of transport to Ghanaians which will reduce accidents on our roads

The Minister and MP walked briskly through the scorching sun along the railway lines and later with their teams joined a train from Tarkwa to Nsuta.

The residents of Tarkwa were very happy as for the first time in over a decade, their olden times source of transport which boosted trade and industrial activities of the Municipal nd beyond is back to life.

Praises were showered on H. E Nana Akufo Addo, Hon. Joe Ghartey and Hon. George Mireku Duker, the hardworking MP who promised the good people of Tarkwa that, he will ensure he works hard with the sector Minister to ensure that, Tarkwa rails are back to operation.