The plan to connect Ghana and Burkina Faso by rail has been taken a notch higher following the opening of an international competitive tender for potential contractors to submit bids.

The proposed rail network is expected to pass through the eastern corridor of Ghana starting from the Tema Port, through Akosombo, Ho, Hohoe, Yendi, Tamale and to Paga.

The line will continue in Burkina Faso from Dakola going through Po along the national highway number 5, integrating the pole of growth of Bagre and ends at Ouagadougou.

The governments of Ghana and Burkina Faso in a joint press announcement requesting for expression of interest from potential contractors explained the move was part of measures to improve the bilateral trading activities between the two countries.

The project is expected to be undertaken through a Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement with the intention to reduce the time and resources people spend transacting business between Ghana and Burkina Faso.

Contractors interested in the project have up to May 21, 2018 to submit their bids.

Below is a copy of the Request of Expression of Interest

The Republic of Ghana and Burkina Faso are two countries in West Africa sharing a continuous international land border of about 549 kilometers. The two countries, members of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), represent one of the most dynamic economies of the sub-region with a growth rate estimated at 8.4% for Burkina and 8.7% for Ghana in 2017.

The two countries are historic trading partners with north-south cross-border road traffic of nearly 465 vehicles per day, the two countries are connected on the Burkina side mainly by the national roads No. 5, 6 in the North-South direction giving access to the Port of Tema and Takoradi.

The dependence of trade on mainly the road mode limits trade between these two countries, notwithstanding the mining and commercial potentials they have.

In line with ECOWAS policy and Railway Master Plan emphasizing the need for rail interconnectivity among sister ECOWAS countries, the two countries have agreed to seek technical and financial partners for the construction and operation of a railway system between the two countries on a PPP basis.

In this regard, the Governments of Ghana and Burkina Faso intend to pursue a PPP arrangement for the development of the Ghana - Burkina Railway Line on a Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) basis.

The Ghana leg of the proposed railway corridor is towards the easternmost part of the country and starts from the Tema Port, through Akosombo, Ho, Hohoe, Yendi, Tamale and to Paga.

The line continues in Burkina Faso from Dakola going through Po along the national highway number 5, integrating the pole of growth of bagre and ends at Ouagadougou.

The procurement of the private sector partner(s) to develop the project will be carried out in accordance with the applicable procurement laws of both Ghana and Burkina.

The objective of the project, which is to improve the transport and logistics chain on the rail corridor towards accelerating economic growth and development of both countries, is expected to be fully funded through a public-private partnership (PPP) arrangement.

The Governments of the Republic of Ghana and Burkina Faso through their respective Ministries of Railways Development and Transport, Urban Mobility & Road Safety are therefore inviting prospective bidders (“firms”) to express their interest for the development of the Project on a BOT basis.

The Expression of Interest should include the following:

• a letter of expression of interest specifying the purpose of the assignment;

• The financial strength/capacity of the prospective bidder;

• The prospective bidder’s technical experience/capacity in carrying out the above project on a

BOT basis; and

• The bidder’s past experience in similar projects.

Bidders may form consortiums with other firms to enhance their qualification and must include significant level of Ghanaian and Burkinabe participation.

Bids are invited from firms from all countries and interested bidders may obtain further information at the Ministry of Railways Development in Ghana and Ministry of Transport, Urban Mobility and Road Safety in Burkina Faso.