Rail transport in Africa

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• MARCUS AMPADU 9 years ago

  Apparently a clean, fast, reliable and safe rail transportation in Ghana is not a priority to demand national attention.
  Especially when we have plethora of challenges demanding to be tackled.
  
  But because of its multipli ...
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  Apparently a clean, fast, reliable and safe rail transportation in Ghana is not a priority to demand national attention.
  Especially when we have plethora of challenges demanding to be tackled.
  
  But because of its multiplier effects on the economy as a whole, we have to make rail transportation a top priority, if even we have to borrow to implement it.
  
  A clean, fast,reliable & safe rail transportation cross-crossing the four corners of Ghana and all points in between would revolutionalise the country.

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• Sankofa 9 years ago

  The problem, Marcus, is that it is that much cheaper and quicker to build a road than to lay a railway line.
  
  For example, it has taken over three years to construct the Sekondi-Takoradi line, a distance of about 10 kilomet ...
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  The problem, Marcus, is that it is that much cheaper and quicker to build a road than to lay a railway line.
  
  For example, it has taken over three years to construct the Sekondi-Takoradi line, a distance of about 10 kilometres with the project only half-complete as of now. At this rate, one can imagine how long it will take to extend the line from Takoradi to Kumasi.
  
  So even though the multiplier effects of railways for the local and national economies are far superior to roads, the cost of constructing railways and the length of time it takes are negative factors. It does require political will to prioritise railways over roads, especially when politicians are looking for quick wins (vide President Mahama's last SOTN address and the resulting political fallout).
  
  Happily, there are plans to build a network of railways connecting the 10 regional capitals in the fledgling 40-year National Development Plan.

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• Sankofa 9 years ago

  Hahahaaa!
  
  This article has me in stitches. The description of the Nsawam-Accra line is apt and would be funny if it were not such a serious matter. In fact, it encapsulates all that is wrong with our country.
  
  This line ...
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  Hahahaaa!
  
  This article has me in stitches. The description of the Nsawam-Accra line is apt and would be funny if it were not such a serious matter. In fact, it encapsulates all that is wrong with our country.
  
  This line is patently a lifeline for the communities along the route. A modern train service would be a massive boost to commuters between Accra and Nsawam ad ease transportation in Accra. So why has it not been rehabilitated? Why are people allowed to travel free of charge hanging perilously onto the the train? Why do the guards turn a blind eye?
  
  It just shows the apathy, lack of responsibility, lack of political will and the inversion of priorities that have so bedevilled our nation.
  
  Accra is crying for a proper metro system. Ethiopia has had the foresight to build a metro system with over 30 stations in Addis Ababa for $450 million. Is it beyond us to follow suit?
  
  We brought in buses for MMT to run the Mass Rapid Transit only for disgruntled denizens of the erstwhile Sodom and Gomorrah to smash their windows in protest against their forced removal from the rubbish heap in June 2015. Subsequently, and after 6 months of failed promises, scandal broke out over the branding of the buses leading to Dzifa Attivor's resignation. We are now told that there will be a trial of the rapid transit between Amasaman and Accra this June.
  
  Meanwhile, those who cannot afford to buy petrol for their cars have been advised from on high to commute by troto. This is Ghana for you!

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