The Minority caucus in Parliament has criticised government over what it describes as a declining commitment to the railway sector.

It warns that key projects are being neglected despite significant investments by the erstwhile NPP administration.

At a press conference in Accra on Tuesday, March 24, the Ranking Member on the Roads and Transport Committee, Kennedy Nyarko Osei, expressed concern that the sector, which is critical to Ghana’s long-term transport and logistics strategy, is experiencing setbacks due to inadequate funding and stalled implementation.

According to the Minority, no budgetary allocation was made for railway development in 2025, while only GH¢73 million has been earmarked for the sector in 2026, a figure it described as insufficient given the scale of ongoing and near-completed projects.

Mr Osei noted that between 2017 and 2024, Ghana made significant strides in railway modernisation, with investments exceeding $1.1 billion. These investments, he said, led to the development of key infrastructure and the acquisition of rolling stock to revitalise rail transport.

However, he lamented that several strategic projects initiated during that period have stalled under the current administration.

“The current situation points to a significant decline in commitment to railway development, and this is deeply concerning for a sector that requires continuity and long-term investment,” he said.

Among the projects cited was the Tema–Mpakadan railway line, which the Minority said is about 99 per cent complete but remains non-operational.

Similarly, the Kojokrom–Manso line, which had reached approximately 95 per cent completion, has seen no further progress, while the Manso–Huni Valley section has also been left idle.

Mr Osei stressed that the full benefits of these projects cannot be realised without the completion of complementary infrastructure, including entry and exit terminals.

He warned that abandoning such critical components risks rendering the substantial investments already made underutilised.

“Without the completion of the supporting infrastructure, the operational and economic value of these railway projects cannot be fully realised,” he stated.

The Minority also raised concerns about the termination of the Adum–Kaase railway project, describing it as a missed opportunity to ease congestion and promote multimodal transport within the Kumasi metropolis.

According to the group, the combined effect of stalled projects, delayed operationalisation, and inadequate funding is undermining Ghana’s broader railway modernisation agenda and slowing progress towards an efficient, integrated transport system.

It further cautioned that failure to prioritise infrastructure continuity could lead to increased costs in the future, as partially completed projects deteriorate over time.

The Minority called on government to demonstrate renewed commitment to the railway sector by allocating adequate resources, completing ongoing projects and ensuring that past investments deliver their intended economic benefits.

It reiterated its commitment to oversight and pledged to continue engaging stakeholders to ensure that Ghana’s transport infrastructure is developed in a sustainable and efficient manner.