Government is in talks with construction firms and consultants engaged in the construction of railways to begin producing basic materials needed for railway construction in the country.

Minister for Railway Development, John Peter Amewu, has raised concerns over the use of some imported materials like the floor sleepers that can be sourced locally for the construction of the Railway line from Takoradi via Kojokrom to Tarkwa in the Western region.

He made the observation during a tour of the project site where he engaged the engineers and workers at the site.

According to him, this will bring some economic empowerment to Ghanaians and indigenes along the project areas as part of the job creation agenda by the government.

“We all know that when it comes to a government of Ghana funded project, the President (Akufo-Addo) is very critical about local content and going forward we have made it known to all contractors and consultants that there will be not less than 30% local participation for the entire work, from materials to human resource”.

“We have sand in abundance at my hometown and any other place in Ghana to construct sleepers. When it comes to cement, Ghacem is there, so I think it is about time we bring production of some basic materials down to the country so that the local people can earn some revenue from the job and thereby increase the local content” he told Journalists on the site.

The Minister however expressed satisfaction about the progress of work on the 22 kilometer line which is about 80 percent completed.