A former senior railway worker, Mr. Jonathan Godwill, has described Ghana’s railway system as a “fallen giant” and is calling for urgent government action to restore what was once the backbone of the nation’s economy.
Speaking on Beach FM’s Western Echo, the 88-year-old veteran, whose family worked across generations in the sector, blamed the collapse on poor policies, neglect, and a lack of long-term planning.
“Railways used to pay government departments. The moment the ports were separated from railways, the collapse began,” he said.
Mr. Godwill painted a vivid picture of Ghana’s vibrant railway era, from overnight sleeper trains between Takoradi and Accra to the use of trains for transporting timber, cocoa, and bananas. He recalled how the railway system connected communities, boosted local businesses, and even offered scholarships to workers.
He also pointed out that rail was once the main mode for transporting heavy exports and questioned why today Ghana relies on trucks that damage roads and threaten lives.
The railway was everything for many towns. It gave jobs, built families, and carried the economy,” he added.
Godwill believes that reviving the sector will require a shift in priorities, restructured leadership, investment in technical training, and cross-border expansion to countries like Côte d’Ivoire and Burkina Faso.
He praised previous efforts such as the Amandi project but criticized the slow pace and inconsistency between successive governments.
“We talk a lot, promise a lot, and do very little,” he said.
Now retired, Mr. Godwill hopes to document his experiences in writing, and he encourages younger Ghanaians to understand the lost value of railways. He believes that the long-term benefits of rail infrastructure far outweigh the costs if only the right commitment is shown.
-Tony Krapah
