The management of the Ghana Railways Company Limited (GRCL) has issued a strong warning to persons who have been stealing railway tracks, steel sleepers and other railway materials.
According to the company, this act has been impeding the government’s efforts in revamping railways in the country.
The company has asked culprits to desist immediately from such “irresponsible acts, as they will be severely dealt with by the law enforcement agencies when caught.”
A statement issued by the company and signed by its Acting Managing Director, Dr Michael Adjei Anyetei, underscored the need to protect national assets such as railway lines.
He stressed it was an offence for any unauthorised persons to remove railway material without authorisation.
He, therefore, urged the public to report any individual caught stealing or in possession of any piece of a railway line, steel sleeper or materials to the nearest police station.
Dr Anyetei also appealed to the media and the public to assist the company in delivering on its mandate of providing effective, reliable, safe passenger and freight transportation to the country.
This could be done by serving as watchdogs in the fight against these “unpatriotic and unscrupulous persons who are bent on destroying the rail sector in this country,” he said.
Railways Ministry decries stealing of railway tracks
According to the Ministry of Railways Development, the continuous stealing of railway tracks costs millions of cedis to construct a kilometre of a rail line.
The Deputy Minister for Railways Development, Kwaku Asante, who is currently visiting some areas in the Ashanti Region to retrieve stolen lines with the police, said, “We borrowed money from outside to finance some of the projects we are doing.”
“It is a big business, and we suspect that there is a syndicate that has made it a purpose to steal the railway tracks and use the money for their own benefits,” he lamented.
He explained that they have been able to retrieve some rail lines from the public, adding that some suspects were currently before the court, while others have been prosecuted over the theft of the lines.
He, therefore, urged “all Ghanaians to be aware of the activities of these thieves so that all of us will be watchdogs in our communities where there are railway lines and report anyone that goes near the asset to the police.”
Revamping the Railway sector
Meanwhile, President Akufo-Addo has indicated that the railway sector is one of his priorities in the transport sector and has therefore detached the Railways Development Ministry from the Transport Ministry.
Rehabilitation works on the Takoradi to Tarkwa rail line have been completed, with the Accra-Tema railway line scheduled to start operations.
The government in 2018 signed a $2.6 billion agreement with a South African group, Africa Investment (Ai) SkyTrain Consortium, for the construction of the Accra Sky Train Project with feasibility studies finalised.
The project, which is yet to be implemented, is expected to solve the challenges the capital is experiencing in relation to the ever-increasing road traffic congestion, with its detrimental effects on economic activity, pollution and the quality of life.
READ ALSO: Railway Line Stealing Syndicate Busted, Two Jailed As Four Face Trial
