The Ghana Railway Workers Union has expressed discontent with the government over the planned construction of a sky train project in Accra.

In a statement, the workers’ union said the “initiative, as well as other Railway Constructions in the pipe line though very good initiatives, do not inure to the benefit of Ghana Railway Company Limited.”

The workers argue that the railway company survives mainly by “haulage of commodities such as Bauxite, Manganese, Cocoa, etc. on the Western Rail Line (Takoradi to Awaso).”

“In April 2019 the public was made aware that a contract has been signed for the Revamping of the Western Rail Line from Tarkwa to Dunkwa. To date, we are yet to see real signs of the start of that contract,” they lamented.

They added that anything short of revamping the particular route would not sustain operations of the company.

Meanwhile, President Nana Akufo-Addo has touted the project, describing its signing ceremony as “a happy day for Ghana and her good people.”

Read the workers’ union full statement below

The leadership of Ghana Railway Workers Union, on behalf of workers of Ghana Railway Co. Ltd note with concern the speed at which the Ministry of Railways Development has struck a deal for the construction of a sky train for Ghana by August 2020.

We wish to state that this initiative as well as other Railway Constructions in the Pipe Line though very good initiatives, do not inure to the benefit of Ghana Railway Co Ltd. (GRCL).

As a Company, our Survival has been on the haulage of commodities such as • Bauxite, Manganese, Cocoa, etc on the Western Rail Line (Takoradi to Awaso).

In April 2019 the public was made aware that a contract has been signed for the Revamping of the Western Rail Line from Tarkwa to Dunkwa. To date, we are yet to see real signs of the start of that contract.

Considering the Financial Challenges facing the GRCL we are of the view that anything short of Total Revamping of the Western Rail Line from Kojokrom up to Awaso to enable Bauxite, Manganese, and Cocoa, etc. to be hauled by rail cannot sustain the operations of GRCL.

GRCL has over the years been a burden on central government and until a total revamping of the Western Rail Line is done it will be impossible to sustain the GRCL.

We hope our continuous call for the Total Revamping of the Western Rail Line will receive the same attention and speed to enable it to see the Light of the Day,