The commissioning ceremony, held at the Tema Harbour on November 22, heralded the opening of Ghana’s first standard gauge railway, constructed at a cost of $447 million through a credit facility from India-Exim Bank. Speaking at the event, President Akufo-Addo highlighted the railway’s significance in addressing longstanding challenges in Ghana’s transportation sector.
The Tema-Mpakadan Standard Gauge Railway Line (SGRL) and Diesel Multiple Unit trains (DMU) was inaugurated in Tema by President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.The $447 million 97.6-kilometre railway line project including a 300-metre bridge over the Volta River is to, among others things, play a critical part of a multi-modal transport system that integrates rail, road and inland transport, improving logistics efficiency and boosting trade, particularly in agriculture and port operations.
By reducing our reliance on road transport, for long-distance freight and passenger movement, this railway line will address several critical challenges that have hindered Ghana’s development.It will decongest significantly our roads, alleviating the health burden that has led to severe traffic congestion, the rapid deterioration of road infrastructure, and an alarming increase in road accidents.
NANA AKUFO ADDO, President of the Republic
The project is the first section of Ghana-Burkina Faso interconnectivity project connecting Tema, Ghana’s key port city, to Mpakadan, aimed at strengthening links with neighbouring countries. President Akufo-Addo in his inaugural address, said the first ever SGRL in Ghana, symbolised the bold strides of government in modernising the transport infrastructure to drive the economic growth of the country.In addition to promoting regional trade by enhancing Ghana’s role as a logistics hub in West Africa, the project would significantly decongest roads, minimise the rapid deterioration of road infrastructure and the alarming increase in road accidents.
The economic and social benefits of this project are far-reaching and transformative. By alleviating the pressure on our road network, we will extend the lifeline of critical routes, including those along the eastern corridor, while simultaneously lowering the cost of transporting bulk goods, agricultural produce, and containers, thereby enhancing business competitiveness.
NANA AKUFO ADDO, President of the Republic
It should be noted that the project was initially conceived under the administration of former President John A. Kufuor. The commitment of the government to expanding Ghana’s railway network guided by the revised 2020 Railway Master Plan.Officials say the Tema-Mpakadan railway line is just one piece of a larger puzzle. Guided by our 2020 revised railway Master Plan, they plan to expand the reach of Ghana’s railway network to unlock the full potential of our economy .
