Government urged to revamp Ghana Railways Company

Takoradi, Sept. 16, GNA - Mr. Francis Eghan, former New Patriotic Party (NPP) Western Regional chairman, on Monday appealed to government to revamp the Ghana Railways Company (GRC), to enable it to contribute effectively to national development.

He said that the company would be able to survive and generate more revenue if government formulate polices to improve its operations. Mr. Eghan, who was speaking at a press conference on the state of the railways system in the Western Region, in Takoradi, said "I am urging government to be interested in issues that concerns the Railway". He said that over the years the main work of the company has been the haulage of bauxite and manganese, which accounted for about 80 per cent of its revenue.

Mr. Eghan said this activity was terminated due to the recent strike action by GRC workers, which affected fortunes of the company and could not generate funds internally to pay its workers. He appealed to the Ministry of Ports, Harbours and Railways and government to absorb the payment of salaries of workers of the company. Mr. Eghan said the entire railways system needed massive rehabilitation to enhance its operations adding that "Without the requisite capitalization and rehabilitation, the GRC would collapse and it would be difficult to revive it".