Western Regional Minister inspects progress of Western Railway line project – Skyy Power FM

The Western Regional Minister Dr Kobby Okyere Darko-Mensah and the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Tarkwa Nsuaem Mr Benjamin Kessie inspected the progress of work on the Western Railway project on Monday, March 13.

The Western rail line which is being constructed by Amandi Construction Limited runs from Takoradi Port to Kumasi with a branch line from Dunkwa to Awaso with 2 mines on the route.

The first is the Ghana Manganese Company at Nsuta and it is the inefficiency of the narrow gauge line that has forced the company to transport manganese by road to the Takoradi Port.

The other mine is the bauxite mine at Awaso which was previously used to transport bauxite by rail but now has to do that by road to the Takoradi Port because the rail line between Awaso and Nsuta cannot be used.

The site manager, Mr Gideon Anderson speaking on the update of the 78km section of the Western railway line from Manso to Huni Valley which includes the conversion of the narrow-gauge line between Kojokrom and Takoradi, as well as an extension of the standard gauge line into the newly expanded Takoradi Port said 14% overall work has been done with 2.8 kilometres of existing rail line dismantled. He added that 12.7 kilometres of excavation has been done with 11.5 kilometres of block stabilisation.

“We have done 12.7 kilometres of clearing, same as excavation, with rock stabilization we have done 11.57 kilometres, the road over-bridge is ongoing… We are also working on the Amante station which is currently at the lentil level.”

Ehud Beeri, the Project Director for the Western Rail Line said some of the challenges they are facing are the lack of finance for the project and the delay in compensation for property owners along the rail lines.

“Some of our current challenges on the project can be related to financial uncertainties which our financiers have alerted the Ghana government on the situation.”

“Another is the issue of compensation for people who are to be compensated because their properties will be affected by the construction and that has not been done which is delaying the project.”

He also stated that galamsey activity along the construction area is a problem for them since illegal miners take advantage of their heavy machinery to mine after they have cleared the land for rail construction.