Ghana’s ambitious railway master plan aims for 4000 kilometers by 2035 -GRDA CEO reveals

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Ghana’s Railway Development Authority (GRDA), Yaw Owusu, has shared ambitious plans of his outfit.

In a recent interview with Beach FM’s Arafat Musah, the CEO revealed that the comprehensive railway master plan envisions a network spanning 4000 kilometers, reaching all 16 regions and tapping into mineral deposits across the nation.

“This railway master plan is set to capture 4000 kilometers across the country touching all the 16 regions in this country and also all the minerals deposits around the country.”

The financial commitment to this grand project amounts to $20 billion, with an anticipated completion by 2035. As of now, approximately 200 kilometers of railway have been constructed under the ongoing initiative, constituting just 1% of Ghana’s total transportation landscape.

“The budget for this railway development is $20 billion and if everything turns out right financially, this project will be done by 2035. Currently, we have done about 200 kilometers of the on-going project. The current percentage of railway is 1 percent of the entire transport of Ghana and the target is to boost the railway sector to ensure that railway plays a vital role in transport in Ghana.”

Mr. Owusu emphasized the critical role of railways in Ghana’s transportation system, acknowledging the current limited contribution of railways to the nation’s overall transport sector. The aim according to him, is to substantially elevate the significance of railways within the country’s transport infrastructure.

Addressing past challenges, Yaw Owusu noted that measures have been established to combat rail theft, allowing the focus to remain on realizing the 4000-kilometer goal by 2035.

The CEO also expressed concerns about the impact of illegal mining, known as “galamsey,” on the project’s progress. He pledged to take decisive action to curtail the activities of “galamseyers” and urged all stakeholders to collaborate in addressing this issue.

“Galamseyers are also seen as a clear danger to the development of this target. We see their operation as a threat to the development of the target. But we will nip it in the bud to ensure that target is achieved.”