The Ghana Railway Development Authority (GRDA) has cautioned individuals encroaching on railway lands to vacate immediately as construction resumes on the Western Railway Line.
According to the Head of Corporate Affairs of the Ghana Railway Development Authority, Sahadatu Alhassan, land encroachment is one of the Authority’s biggest challenges.
Speaking to reporters from Joy News, she said “With the issue of land encroachment, it’s a big challenge we are facing as a railway authority.”
Sahadatu Alhassan further went on to issue a strong warning to people who take up spaces along railway lines as the lands belong to the Authority.
“The encroachers, we are urging them to stay away from railway lines. Before the construction of railway lines, compensation was made to landowners and so we own the land. Encroachers, please stay away from railway lines. Those who are on lease know their limit,” she stated
She added that there will be tighter security and strict enforcement, warning, “We will not spare anybody we find on our railway lines.”
The Chief Executive Officer of the GRDA, Dr. Frederick Appoh, also confirmed that contractors have returned to site on the Western Railway Line.
“Our contractor has resumed work on the Western Railway Line. I am pretty much sure that this resumption of works will also energize the resumption of works for our local sleeper factory, RMS. They employ over 150 Ghanaians who are sitting at home. So, it’s good news that basically we’re back on site,” he said.
RMS Concrete Limited is a wholly owned Ghanaian company, partly owned by the Government of Ghana, and established to produce prestressed concrete sleepers and other concrete products.
The Company entered into a Nomination Agreement with the Ghana Railway Development Authority in October 2019, under which the Company has been nominated as the sole supplier of concrete sleepers and fastenings for the construction of the Western Railway Line.
Dr. Frederick Appoh also touched on the importance of the project to Ghana’s economy, noting that the line is critical for manganese haulage.
“The Western Railway Line forms a cornerstone of our 24-hour economy in terms of haulage of manganese. At the moment we are just 15 kilometers from Nsuta. This is termed as operation tax storm. We must reach Nsuta Mines at all costs, just to make sure we can haul the manganese to Takoradi port,” he said.
