Parliament discusses Accra - Nsawam-railway line

The deplorable state of the Nsawam-Accra railway line engaged the attention of Parliament, once again, on Wednesday, with members, mostly on the Minority side urging the Government to move beyond “seeming rhetoric” to revamp the line.

Supplementary questions and submissions in reaction to responses from Transport Minister Dzifa Aku Ativor quoting from a parliamentary document, noted that the Minister had given the same response she offered on November 18, 2014, when she appeared before the House on the same issue.

Mr Frank Annoh-Dompreh, Member of Parliament (MP) for Nsawam-Adoagyiri, in a question sought to know “what the Ministry is doing currently to revamp the Accra-Nsawam Railway line.”

Mrs Attivor answered: “At my last appearance on 18th November, 2014 to answer the same question, I indicated that the Eastern line and the Boankra Inland port have been put together as one project. The Eastern line is from Accra to Kumasi with a branch line to Tema.

“I also indicated that the Ministry has engaged Pricewaterhouse Coopers as Transaction Advisers to advise on PPP option to assist in engaging a Private Sector Investor to partner Government to execute the project. The Consultant has completed the feasibility study and is putting together the Request for Proposal for bidding.

According to Mrs Ativor basic maintenance works continues to be carried out by the Ghana Railway Company Limited to ensure safety of operations on the line, and about 1,195 wooden sleepers and 200 steel sleepers have been changed this year.

“Mr Speaker, whilst waiting for the project, the Ministry has taken the initiative to speed up the Accra-Nsawam Section of the line,” Mrs Ativor said.

She added:” In this regard, the Ministry has engaged Team Engineering as consultant to do the Front End Engineering design (FEED) for the Accra- Nsawam section of the line.

“The FEED and Environmental and Social Impact Assessment of the line is nearing completion. This will allow detailed design of the section and prepare it for construction subject to the availability of funds.”

Mr Annoh-Dompreh, noted however that the Minister’s answer was largely the same when she appeared before the House on the same issue, and urged the Government to commit beyond the “seeming rhetoric” to the rehabilitation of the line.

“I take the response with a pinch of salt,” Mr Annoh-Dompreh said, and requested if the Minister would be available to accompany him on a tour of the transport facility to assess the extent of damage of the line.

“I’m always available,” Mrs Ativor reassured Mr Annoh-Dompreh, to which he said “it is refreshing to hear that. Sooner, I will come to your office, and we can go and estimate the extent of damage.”

Mrs Ativor answered further questions, concerning the cost of the project, whether the line is operational, among other questions.

She said the cost of the project estimated at GHc 65,750, and debunked a report that there were no trains plying the line.

She indicated trains were still running on the line, both in the morning and in the evening, and that the project is a top Government priority project subject to the availability of funds.

Earlier before she answered the question, there was a shout from the chamber for her to speak into the mic.

Mr Joe Ghartey, Second Deputy Speaker, who chaired proceedings, called for order, and invoking a provision in the Standing Orders of Parliament cautioned that he would not tolerate shouting in the House.

The House is still taking the Immigration Service Bill, 2015 through the Consideration Stage.