Tema-Mpakadan railway will be a community-empowering lifeline says Akufo-Addo

President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has stated that the nearly commissioned Tema-Mpakadan railway project will serve as an empowering lifeline to the communities and businesses along the line of its operation.

The project which was conceived under the erstwhile John Kufuor administration and completed by the Akufo-Addo administration according to President Akufo-Addo, “is a good example of continuity in governments for national development.

Addressing an excited crowd of chiefs and people of Tema at the commissioning ceremony, held at the Tema end of the railway line on Friday, 22 November 2024, President Akufo-Addo said by reducing Ghana’s reliance on road transport, long-distance freight and passenger movement, the Tema Mpakadan railway line will address several critical challenges that have hindered Ghana’s development.

“It will decongest significantly our roads, alleviating the heavy burden that has led to severe traffic congestion, the rapid deterioration of road infrastructure, and an alarming increase in road accidents. When fully operational, the multimodal network will link the Tema Port to the north- south transport corridor, spanning some 400 kilometers.

“It will open new opportunities for the movement of fuel, cement, containerized cargo, and agricultural projects. The economic and social benefits of this project are far-reaching and transformative,” President Akufo-Addo remarked.

“This project is far more than just a railway line. It is a lifeline that will empower communities, invigorate businesses, and strengthen industries, ultimately making Ghana more resilient and prosperous. This ambitious endeavor, financed through an India Exim Bank credit, facilitates at a cost of some US$447 million, is a proud achievement for all Ghanaians,” Akufo-Addo further remarked.

Guinness World Record

In his address, the Minister for Railway Development, John Peter Amewu, noted that the first ever single standard gauge railway line in Ghana commenced in 2017 and it is a 97-kilometer railway line. He noted that one of the major components of the project is the construction of a 300-meter rail bridge over the Volta Lake, the first of its kind in Africa.

“The magnificent rail bridge which is the first of its kind in Africa, and measures about 300 meters in length, located between Senchi and Old Akrade has been completed as part of this project.

“It is important to mention that as a result of the construction of the Senchi bridge, a significant engineering achievement is being awarded by the Guinness Book of records to give recognition to the world’s deepest recap fire bridge which goes as deep as 76 meters below water level,” Peter Amewu said.

“This is the first of its kind and Mr President, your infrastructure project for the first time is going into the Guinness Book of Records. We the people of Ghana are extremely excited about having been able to achieve this,” the Railway Development Minister added.

Reporting by Wilberforce Asare in Accra, Ghana

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