An ongoing joint investigation by the Ghana Railway Development Authority (GRDA) and the Ghana Police Service has uncovered a disturbing plot by suspected saboteurs attempting to disrupt the newly introduced passenger train service on the Tema-Afienya route.
According to a report by graphiconline.com on October 23, 2025, the investigation follows two deliberate incidents this week targeting the new Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) train, recently acquired by the government to revamp railway operations.
Two Incidents in Two Days
The acts of sabotage occurred consecutively earlier this week:
• Monday, October 20, 2025: A minor was reportedly coerced into throwing stones at the moving DMU train, destroying the front windshield.
• Tuesday, October 21, 2025: A second attempt at sabotage involved placing a large stone directly on the tracks in an apparent effort to derail the train.
The DMU is currently providing passenger services between Tema and Afienya on the newly constructed railway line connecting Tema and Mpakadan.
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Suspects Apprehended, Payments Discovered
The police have since picked up two suspects linked to both incidents: a 10-year-old boy and an adult suspect.
Preliminary stages of the investigation suggest that the saboteurs are paying individuals to carry out these attacks.
Investigators have found that the suspects were allegedly paid GH₵20 cedis each as an inducement to perform the damaging acts, though the underlying motive remains undetermined.
Previous Sabotage and Service Suspension
This week’s incidents mark the second time the train service on this route has faced severe sabotage attempts.
The most notable previous incident occurred in April 2024, during the testing phase of the newly acquired DMU.
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A driver intentionally parked a truck on the railroad tracks, causing an accident that severely damaged the train.
The subsequent repair was covered by insurance, but the passenger service was suspended until its official reactivation on October 1, 2025, by the GRDA and the Ministry of Transport.
According to graphiconline.com, the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Railway Development Authority, Dr Frederick Appoh, confirmed the two incidents this week and the ongoing investigations and expressed disbelief and disappointment that anyone would deliberately endanger lives and national progress.
He condemned the act of vandalism, which involved using stones to destroy the windshield and attempting to derail a moving train, describing it as a “reckless act of sabotage.”
He said this has prompted swift security and repair measures under the ongoing Railway Reset Agenda.
He confirmed the arrest of two persons, a 10-year-old boy and his father, in connection with the Monday incident.
He said the boy hurled a stone at the moving train on Monday evening as it was completing its final trip of the day from the Afienya Station toward Tema.
He said the stone was thrown directly at the train’s windscreen, damaging it while 184 passengers were on board.
“We tried catching the person, and we managed to apprehend a minor—about 10 years old—who was involved. The man who was seen running away turned out to be his father, and he managed to escape,” he explained.
Second Attempt and Arrest
Dr Appoh said that the following day, Tuesday [October 21, 2025], another attempt was made to sabotage the railway by placing a stone on the tracks, apparently in an effort to derail the train.
He said security teams intervened quickly, preventing what he described as a “catastrophic” accident.
Dr Appoh said Police investigations led to the arrest of two individuals believed to be connected to both incidents.
The minor involved has since been handed over to the Juvenile Unit of the Ghana Police Service.
”We have arrested two people. The child has been given to the juvenile authorities because of his age,” he confirmed, adding that “Information from the minor has helped us identify others believed to be involved.”
He said preliminary findings suggest the suspects may have been paid GH¢20 cedis to carry out the act, though investigators have not yet determined the motive.
Swift Response and Reinforced Security
Dr Appoh said that following the incidents, the Ghana Railway Development Authority has reinforced security along the Afienya–Tema rail corridor by deploying additional personnel to patrol and monitor the tracks.
“We are doing whatever we can to run a very safe railway line for the good people of Tema and Adomi enclaves,” the official said. “The threat is constant, but our response is stronger.”
He said the damaged windscreen had been temporarily repaired, and the train was back in operation.
He said the damage was not severe enough to halt service, and the screen was expected to be entirely replaced within the next two weeks.
”The train is back on track. We have repaired the damage and decided to continue operations while we prepare for a full replacement soon,” Dr Appoh said, adding, “We don’t want to halt service unnecessarily, but safety remains our top priority.”
He described the attacks as “reckless and dangerous,” emphasising that such acts would not derail Ghana’s ongoing Railway Reset Agenda, an ambitious initiative to modernise the nation’s railway network.
He urged the public to report suspicious activity along railway lines and to support law enforcement efforts to safeguard national infrastructure.
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