Transport Minister to tackle encroachment, illegal mining along rail lines

The Minister of Transport, Joseph Bukari Nikpe, has vowed to tackle encroachment and illegal mining along railway lines to restore full operations of the rail sector.

The Ghana Railway Development Authority (GRDA) would first engage the encroachers before deploying national security to halt encroachment and illegal mining activities affecting railway infrastructure.

The minister made these commitments on Thursday during a working visit to the GRDA, where he engaged management on the Authority’s challenges and outlined his vision for the sector.

Encroachment and illegal mining have long been major obstacles to railway operations in Ghana, leading to the deterioration of tracks, disruption of services, and financial losses.

Nikpe expressed concern over the continuous destruction of railway lands by miners and illegal settlers, hindering progress in revamping the sector.

“We will go to the Western Region to engage with other people who are putting a lot of impediments in our way, especially the illegal miners. They have caused damage to the right-of-way of the railway line, and if we do not intervene quickly, they will get all the contracts to balloon,” he noted.

“Yesterday and this morning, I have engaged the National Security to help put to a stop this kind of illegal mining along our railway and encroachment from other people," he added.

The Minister expressed deep concern over the financial difficulties facing railway workers, revealing that employees of the Ghana Railway Company Limited had not received salaries for the past five months due to the company’s inability to operate.

He assured the workers that steps were being taken to address the situation, engaging with the relevant stakeholders, including the Ministry of Finance, to secure financial support.

The Minister lamented the drastic reduction in Ghana’s railway network, noting that at independence, the country had about 947 kilometers of railway lines, but currently only 66 kilometers are operational.

Over the years, there had been an over-reliance on the road sector, to the neglect of other transport modes, including rail services.

The Minister addressed concerns over the stalled railway projects, revealing that many contractors had suspended work due to uncertainties about government payments.

He assured contractors that the government was committed to settling outstanding debts and would engage with them to resume their projects.

The Minister highlighted the Tema-Mpakadan railway project, which is not yet operational, and promised to get it running soon.

Dr. Frederick Appoh, the Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO), GRDA, welcomed the minister’s visit, stating that it provided an opportunity to assess ongoing projects and identify key challenges.

He emphasised the need for immediate action to address issues affecting rail operations, including illegal activities along railway lands and funding constraints.

Dr Appoh said the resumption of work on the Western Railway Line, operationalisation of the Tema-Mpakadan railway, and protection of sector lands from encroachment were key areas needing urgent attention.

“We need to engage key stakeholders, including the Volta River Authority, Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, and the Ghana Shippers’ Authority, to integrate rail transport with shipping services,” he said.

“We have spent close to $500 million on the Tema-Mpakadan project, which is 99 percent complete, and we must ensure it is fully utilised.”

The GRDA would collaborate with local authorities, including the Accra Metropolitan Assembly, to protect railway lands from further encroachment, he noted.

He expressed the optimism that with continued engagement and support from the Transport Ministry, the railway sector would be revitalised to play a key role in Ghana’s transportation system.