The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Railways Development Authority (GRDA), Dr. Frederick Appoh, has dismissed reports suggesting that the inactivity of trains on the Tema–Mpakadan railway line is due to a fuel shortage.
His response follows claims by some striking workers of the Ghana Railway Company Services (GRCS), who alleged that operations had stalled because of a lack of fuel to power the two trains assigned to the route.
In an interview on Wednesday, May 14, Dr. Appoh clarified that the trains are fully functional and ready for service, but the delay in operations is due to serious infrastructural issues along the railway line.
“Both trains on the Tema–Mpakadan route are in excellent condition and operationally ready.
“The suspension of service has absolutely nothing to do with fuel availability. The challenges are structural,” he said
According to Dr. Appoh, a routine track inspection conducted on March 15 revealed multiple problems, including widespread theft of rail components, vandalism, and illegal encroachments.
“Scrap dealers have stripped away buffer stocks, and critical parts like nuts and bolts have been stolen. These actions have compromised the integrity of the tracks. We are currently addressing these challenges to ensure safe and sustainable operations,” he explained.
He further noted that the Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications (GIFEC) is leading efforts to restore and secure the corridor. “So far, we’ve completed about 75% of the mitigation measures outlined in the action plan,” Dr. Appoh added.
On the issue of unpaid salaries which has contributed to the workers’ strike, Dr. Appoh expressed empathy for the affected staff and assured that steps are being taken to resolve the matter.
The GRDA is urging the public and stakeholders to remain patient as efforts continue to restore operations on one of Ghana’s most critical rail corridors.
