Prioritise the rehabilitation of the railway sector - TUC

The Secretary General of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Mr. Kofi Asamoah has called on government to prioritize the resuscitation of the Railway sector.

He said although the rehabilitation of the rail lines was capital intensive, there was the need for the various governments to show commitment towards revamping the sector.

Mr. Asamoah expressed these concerns at the 10th Quadrennial Delegates Conference of the Railway Workers Union Fijai in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis.

The event was held on the theme: “Rail Transport a Tool for Economic and Social Development: The Way Forward for Ghana Railway Company Limited”.

Mr. Asamoah said the socio-economic history of the country could not be told without reference to the contribution of the rail transportation.

“Throughout the world, rail transport plays critical role in the carriage of persons, goods and services for economic and social transformation”, he said, adding that “it is sad that we have allowed the once vibrant railway transport to deteriorate through neglect and lack of investment”.

Mr. Asamoah called for massive capital injection by the government instead of dependency on foreign direct investment in the sector.

He said the potential of a fully developed railway sector would reduce traffic congestion in our towns and cities and enhance socio-economic productivity of the nation.

Mr. Asamoah suggested the merger of Railway Workers Union and Enginemen Union in the company in order to forge for a common purpose.

The Board Chairman of the Ghana Railway Company, Dr Clement Hammah, said railway transport had clear economic advantage over other modes of transport in terms of the haulage of goods in large quantities.

He said the development of railway transport was the central nervous system of a viable transportation sector, hence the need to accelerate its development.