Ghana has already taken a lead in rehabilitating and expanding its railway network system, to pave way for the Trans-ECOWAS interconnecting railway project in member States.

According to Ms. Sophia Horner-Sam, Deputy Minister of Harbours and Railways, government had signed a contract with Peatrak Company Limited (an engineering company), to begin the first phase of construction of new rail lines from Accra through Tema to Kumasi.

She said the project would be expanded from Kumasi to Paga in the Upper East region to link the country to Burkina-Faso.

Ms. Horner-Sam, who was addressing experts at a national information seminar on the progress on a feasibility study on the Trans-ECOWAS interconnecting railway project on Wednesday, said rail transportation could become the most viable option to road transportation, provided the costs were put under control.

Ms. Horner-Sam said the rehabilitation of existing Western Railway lines from Takoradi to Kumasi through to Hamile in the Upper West region were all significant efforts towards ensuring a sustainable sub-regional integration.

"This can be achieved through the implementation of concrete projects and programmes aimed at developing the region in a comprehensive and interdependent way," she said.

"It will also promote cross boarder trade and economic activity through improved land transport linkages and improve air passenger and freight linkages across Africa's sub-region," she said.

Source: GNA