The Ministry of Railways Development has opened responses to the Request for Qualification that had been issued to various companies shortlisted for the construction of the Eastern Rail Line project on a Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) basis.

The Eastern Railway Line links Accra to Kumasi with a branch line from Achimota to Tema port.

The total track length is 330 km, and the gauge is 1,067 mm.

Apart from the stretch from Accra to Nsawam and Accra to Tema which are being used for passenger traffic, the line is currently not operational due to its poor state.

The reconstruction of the Eastern Railway Line will include financing, development and operation of the 330km line and will include the provision of rolling stock, station upgrades, signalling and communication equipment.

The Ministry says it has so far received 15 responses from various countries including USA, France, Germany, China and Ghana.

The documentation of these shortlisted companies, according to the Minister of Railways Development, Joe Ghartey, is being evaluated.

The companies will subsequently be invited to take part in the last stage of the procurement process and the presentation proposals.

“We working hard to ensure that construction of a new Eastern Railway Line commences this year,” the minister revealed.

Accra-Ouagadougou project

Last Monday, the Ministry also opened the responses to the advertisement for the Expression of Interest for the Accra Ouagadougou Railway Project that will be constructed with the Burkinabe government.

Fifteen companies, from the France, United States, Germany, China and Ghana have also expressed interest.

The Accra-Ouagadougou rail project was proposed by President Akufo-Addo and his Burkinabe counterpart, Roch Marc Christian Kaboré and is in line with Article 32 Paragraph (a) of the revised Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Treaty.

The treaty which encourages member states to evolve common transport and communications policies, laws and regulations among themselves.

The project is scheduled to be completed by the end of October 2020.