The Ghana Railway Development Authority (GRDA) has dismissed claims that its two recently acquired diesel locomotives are obsolete and fit only for a museum, revealing that local technicians are currently undergoing rigorous training to manage and maintain the fleet.
The Chief Executive Officer of the GRDA, Dr Frederick Appoh, strongly refuted allegations made by officials of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) regarding the viability of the trains.
Speaking in an interview on Frontline on Rainbow Radio 87.5FM, he told host Kwabena Agyapong that the locomotives were procured after extensive technical evaluations. He explained that they were selected based on their engineering suitability, operational performance, and compatibility with the Tema–Mpakadan standard gauge railway line.
Dr Appoh assured the public that despite concerns raised about the refurbished British Rail Class 56 locomotives, the authority prioritised the nation’s best interests to deliver the highest possible quality for Ghanaians.
“It is false for anyone to claim that we will not have parts to maintain the locomotives or have technical minds or hands to maintain and manage them,” Dr Appoh stated. “The good news is that we are training Ghanaians to be able to do this. The foreigners who brought the locomotives have trained our Ghanaian technical people so they will be able to manage and maintain them. We are conducting exams for them today.”
He added that under the current development programme, Ghana is on track to produce a new generation of highly skilled, home-grown rail experts over the next decade.
“Through the training that we have given to the Ghanaians, and through the support we have provided, I am confident that in the next 10 to 15 years, we are going to develop modern Ghanaian locomotive engineers.”
He emphasised that the purchase was guided strictly by operational efficiency, engineering specifications, and value for money, rather than the physical appearance or manufacturing date of the locomotives.
According to the CEO, the most critical factors considered prior to the purchase were structural integrity, refurbishment quality, reliability, maintainability, and the capacity of the trains to perform the specific tasks required of them.
He added that the locomotives underwent comprehensive technical assessments before acquisition and fully meet the operational standards of the Tema–Mpakadan railway corridor.
The acquisition is part of state efforts to establish a reliable freight rail service capable of transporting containers and other cargo from the Tema Port to inland destinations.
Dr Appoh added that the investment will significantly strengthen national railway operations by increasing cargo-carrying capacity, whilst seamlessly complementing passenger services on the corridor.
He reiterated that the locomotives are fully compatible with the engineering specifications of the Tema–Mpakadan line and are expected to provide reliable service for many years to come.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana