Dr Fredrick Appoh, the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Railway Development Authority (GRDA), has announced that Ghana is set to launch freight container services within the railway sector by July of this year.
Speaking on Frontline on Rainbow Radio 87.5FM, Dr Appoh highlighted that this initiative marks the first time the country will implement such services, attributing the milestone to the commitment of President John Dramani Mahama in transforming the industry.
During his conversation with host Kwabena Agyapong, the CEO explained that the trains currently being procured possess the capacity to carry twenty containers.
He noted that plans are well underway for the sector to expand into logistics, representing a significant strategic shift from the traditional passenger and bulk transport services for which the railway has historically been known.
Dr Appoh urged stakeholders, particularly railway workers, to take pride in this evolution and remain dedicated to ensuring the long-term viability of the new system.
The financial structure of the new cargo services will involve a charge of $10 per tonne.
Dr Appoh expressed optimism that the sector will undergo a major facelift starting in July, stating his pride in the President’s ongoing efforts.
He emphasised that these services will enable individuals and companies to transport logistics efficiently across the country, necessitating a comprehensive review and improvement of older transport models. Reflecting on recent progress, he noted that the Authority has dedicated the past 15 months to intensive sector transformation.
“Over the past 15 months, the Authority had done a lot in transforming the sector. For the first time in the history of the Republic of Ghana, President John Dramani Mahama is set to introduce container trains. Trains that can transport containers from Tema and Somanya to the Tema Harbour. This will help us decongest our roads and improve environmental conditions; again, we are going to improve the longevity and the whole life cycle of our roads. We are almost there. We don’t want to announce it too much, but by July we will have trains that can transport twenty to thirty containers.”
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana