The government has taken delivery of two new locomotives and 20 freight wagons to strengthen cargo operations on Ghana’s railway network, the latest move in a broader push to modernise the country’s transport sector.
Transport Minister Joseph Bukari Nikpe announced the acquisition on Monday, saying the Ghana Railway Development Authority had received the new rail assets to support freight movement and improve operational efficiency.
“This significant addition to our rail assets marks another important step in our efforts to modernize Ghana’s transport infrastructure and strengthen the role of rail in national development,” Mr. Nikpe said.
He noted that the locomotives and wagons “will enhance freight movement, improve operational efficiency, and provide a more reliable and cost-effective means of transporting goods.”
The acquisition adds to a series of recent government interventions aimed at improving transportation by road and rail as authorities seek to boost connectivity, facilitate trade and support economic growth.
Last month, Vice President Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang inaugurated 100 newly acquired 29-seater buses for Metro Mass Transit Limited (MMTL) as part of a larger programme to procure 300 buses for the state-owned transport operator.
The initiative is intended to increase passenger capacity, improve service reliability and expand transport services to underserved communities. The first batch of buses arrived in Ghana in April, with the remaining units expected later this year.
At the commissioning ceremony, Prof. Opoku-Agyemang said an efficient transport system was essential to national development, stressing that the smooth movement of people, goods and services remained a key driver of economic productivity.
The government’s transport interventions come amid efforts to address persistent challenges in the sector, including overcrowding, long waiting times and inadequate fleet capacity in major urban centres, while also strengthening freight logistics through rail transport.
Mr. Nikpe said the government remained committed to investing in the railway sector as part of plans to build an integrated transport system.
“As Government continues to invest in the railway sector, we remain committed to building an integrated transport system that drives economic growth, facilitates trade, creates jobs, and improves connectivity for businesses and communities,” he said.
He added that the investments were helping to “lay the foundation for a stronger and more resilient transport sector.”
Source: www.kumasimail.com
