Ghana’s rail transport infrastructure has taken a significant leap with the inauguration of the 97-kilometre Tema-Mpakadan railway line, connecting the industrial hub of Tema to Mpakadan in the Eastern Region. This development is set to enhance transport and trade logistics across the country.
During the commissioning ceremony, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo reaffirmed his government’s commitment to revitalising the railway sector, highlighting the project’s potential to stimulate economic growth and create employment opportunities.
“This historic achievement, the first-ever standard gauge railway line in Ghana, symbolizes the bold strides we are taking to modernize our transport infrastructure and drive the economic growth of our nation,” he remarked.
The Tema-Mpakadan project is a key part of Ghana’s strategy to enhance its railway network, which aims to extend over 4,500km of railway tracks nationwide. The line is also integral to the development of a multi-modal transport system, improving connectivity between Tema Port and northern regions of the country.
It is a component of the first phase of the 1,000km Ghana-Burkina Faso Railway Interconnectivity Project, which will build a railway line between the Port of Tema in Ghana and Ouagadougou, the capital city of Burkina Faso.
Construction of the project began in July 2018 and is expected to be completed by December 2022. It was previously planned to be completed in 2021 but was delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
