Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Railway Development Authority (GRDA), Ernest Yaw Owusu, has assured residents of Akwamu and surrounding communities that construction works on the 97.6-kilometer Tema-Mpakadan rail line will be completed in March 2022.

The project begins from Tema in the Greater Accra region, through Afienya, North Tongu District in the Volta region, Lower Manya Krobo and terminates at Mpakadan, a few kilometers from Akosombo.

It is part of the 1,000km Ghana-Burkina Faso Railway Interconnectivity Project, which is expected to link Ghana, from Tema to Burkina Faso’s capital, Ouagadougou.

Despite an earlier assurance given by the AFCONS Infrastructure Limited, the contractor working on the project, to complete by July 2020, there would be over delay due to the Covid-19 pandemic, which stalled construction works.

“Tema-Mpakadan railway project started in July 2017 and was to be completed by July 2020. However, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the new projected date of completion to March 2022," the GRDA CEO said.

Speaking at a community sensitization durbar held at New Akrade in the Asuogyaman District of the Eastern region, Mr Yaw Owusu expressed confidence that the project would be completed by the new projected date.

Among other things, the meeting sought to create awareness on the railway route, the number of stations and halts on the line, and the benefits of the project to residents of the traditional area.

He added, “It is a privilege to this community to be one of the first recipients of the agenda of His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to revamp the railway sector.”

Land compensation

Deputy Railways Development Minister-designate, Kwaku Asante Boateng, entreated citizens of Akwamu to be calm as efforts are being made to resolve all their compensation issues.

This follows agitations by some aggrieved residents who accused authorities of failing to deliver on their promises to address all their issues relating to compensation.

They want the Ghana Railways Development Authority to, with immediate effect, address their concerns.

“We’re discussing with Lands Commission and we’d make sure that the right thing is done, and the compensation would be paid to whoever compensation is due,” Mr. Asante Boateng assured.

The Omanhene of Akwamufie, Odeneho Kwafo Akoto III, had suggestions on additions that the government should make on the project.

The Tema-Mpakadan railway project, when completed, would have eight (8) stations, two (2) terminals, and five (5) railway bridges.