Tema – Eastern Region Rail Line To Be Operational By November 2021
Barring any last minute hitches, goods can be transported by train from the Tema harbour to Mpakadan in the Eastern region from November 2021 following the procurement of two diesel multiple unit coaches by the Ministry of Railways Development.
Ghana and Burkina Faso signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in January 2017 in Ouagadougou to kick-start the project which will connect Tema to the Eastern Region.
The railways development minister John Peter Amewu whilst inspecting the project assured it will be completed by the end of the year while the railway line linking Ghana from Tema to Burkina Faso’s capital Ouagadougou will commence in 2022.
The Minister for Railways Development added that, upon assumption of the Akufo-Addo government in January 2017, the agreement approved by Parliament was reviewed for a number of reasons.
The reasons included a possible effect on the Akosombo Dam, since the project involved drilling a tunnel through rock to the Akosombo Port. The tunnel, he said, was only going to be 60 meters away from the Akosombo Dam at a one point.
Security concerns, in addition to the inability to create other associated economic activity around the rail terminal at the Akosombo port, resulted in the review.
About The Tema To Mpakadan Railway
The Tema-Mpakadan rail line is part of the 1,000km Ghana-Burkina Faso Railway Interconnectivity Project which will link Ghana from Tema to Burkina Faso’s capital Ouagadougou.
In December 2019, the Minister disclosed that 28 kilometres of track have been laid, with the contractor assuring that 40 more kilometres of the track will be completed by the end of this year.
The Project, when completed will be a modern, standard gauge rail line
The two countries had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in January 2017 in Ouagadougou to kick-start the project.
According to the plan, some 800km of the railway line will be in Ghana’s territory while the remaining 200km will be on Burkinabe soil.
According to the plan, some 800km of the railway line will be in Ghana’s territory while the remaining 200km will be on Burkinabe soil.