President John Dramani Mahama has directed the Ministry of Transport to fast-track the extension of the railway line from Tema Port to the Dawa Industrial Enclave in the Greater Accra Region.
The project is intended to improve cargo transportation from Tema Port while waiting for the completion of the Mpakadan Inland Port on the Volta Lake.
The President noted that, once completed, the railway line will not only facilitate cargo movement but also provide an efficient means for workers commuting from Ashaiman to the Industrial Enclave.
The directive came during a meeting with Organized Labour, led by TUC Secretary General Joshua Ansah, convened to address salary arrears of railway sector employees.
President Mahama assured that the Minister of Finance would be briefed on the matter to secure allocations for clearing outstanding salaries.
He further announced that, following recommendations from the Transport Ministry, over a hundred railway workers would be redeployed from the Western Region to Tema to manage the Tema-Mpakadan line, while retirees would receive proper compensation.
Addressing infrastructure updates, President Mahama instructed that dismantling of old railway tracks be carried out by railway personnel, with the recovered metals transported directly to factories for recycling, ensuring both efficiency and sustainability.
The Secretary General of the TUC expressed gratitude for the President’s swift and proactive intervention on issues affecting organized labour.
The meeting was attended by key officials including Presidential Adviser and Special Aide Joyce Bawah Mogtari, Minister for Transport Joseph Bukari Nikpe, Minister for Labour, Jobs and Employment Dr Abdul-Rashid Hassan Pelpuo, and CEO of the Ghana Railway Development Authority, Dr Frederick Appoh.
