News
UMaT wants Land Deed for School of Railways
- /home/u249204778/domains/spectator.com.gh/public_html/wp-content/plugins/mvp-social-buttons/mvp-social-buttons.php on line 27
https://spectator.com.gh/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Prof.-Amankwah-delivering-his-address.jpg&description=UMaT wants Land Deed for School of Railways', 'pinterestShare', 'width=750,height=350'); return false;" title="Pin This Post">
- Share
- Tweet /home/u249204778/domains/spectator.com.gh/public_html/wp-content/plugins/mvp-social-buttons/mvp-social-buttons.php on line 72
https://spectator.com.gh/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Prof.-Amankwah-delivering-his-address.jpg&description=UMaT wants Land Deed for School of Railways', 'pinterestShare', 'width=750,height=350'); return false;" title="Pin This Post">
Prof. Amankwah delivering his address
The Vice Chancellor of University of Mines and Technology (UMaT), Tarkwa, Professor Richard Kwasi Amankwah, has appealed to the Ministry of Railway Development, to help secure a land deed the School of Railways and Infrastructure Development (SRID) at Essikado, in the Western Region.
This, he argued, would help SRID prevent future litigation and also expand its infrastructure to service the needs of the industry.
Prof. Amankwah made the appeal last Saturday when UMaT’s SRID observed the rail transport day on the theme ‘Ghana’s Rail Transport: Challenges and Future Prospects’.
“I appeal to the minister to approve the pending agreement to fully operationalise the Memoranda Of Understanding (MOU) and help in the development of SRID,” he added.
SRID, Prof. Amankwah said, was ready to expand and provide accommodation to prospective students but was faced with land deed.
“Somebody is ready to build a 2, 500 bed facility for us but the issue is that the land does not belong to us. In two years time, SRID will become a college and if government wants to proclaim it as a university, we are ready to release,” he added.
He stated that presently SRID, which began operations in 2020/21 academic year, had about 800 students offering BSc Engineering and seven Certificate Programmes tailored for the railway sector, including Locomotive Engineering, Permanent Way Engineering and Signalling and Telecommunication.
Again, Prof Amankwah said, as part of the school curriculum, BSc students would undertake at least three railway related courses to enable them to earn additional qualification in Railway Engineering at the end of their four-year programme.
Plans for a Post Graduate Certificate Programme in Railway Engineering was also underway.
In 2021, the VC said, SRID in collaboration with AYA Engineering and GIZ began a Summer School Training programme on railway engineering and allied disciplines
UMaT SRID, he explained, championed the rail transport day, in solidarity with gallant railway staff, who worked tirelessly for the benefit of the country and shared ideas on sustainable implementation of the railway master plan of Ghana.
Prof. Amankwah believed the railway sector would continue to see significance improvement to become the once vibrant sector of the economy.
Western Regional Minister, Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah, also spoke about operations of railway which he said reduced pressure and traffic on road networks and also improved the internal and external trade among neighboring countries.
Noting challenges of GRCL, Mr Darko-Mensah assured that “government was working hard with the craftiest technology and stakeholders to aid in the lifting of the glory of our reputable institutions again.”
Reminiscing the railway days, Omanhen of Essikado, Nana Kobina Nketsiah V, also reiterated that Ghana could work again with railways.
From Clement Adzei Boye, Essikado
Construction of a major underground stormwater drain along the Dr. Busia Highway within the Kaneshie enclave will commence on September 7, 2026.
The Project Coordinator for the Greater Accra Resilient and Integrated Development (GARID) Project, Dr. Kwadwo Ohene Sarfo, announced this at a special media briefing on Wednesday.
According to him, the works will involve the construction of a double-cell underground rectangular drain measuring approximately 10 metres wide and 1.95 kilometres long, stretching from Pamprom Junction to First Light Junction.
The new drain will replace the existing two 1.2-metre diameter pipes, which are inadequate to carry the volume of stormwater in the area.
Dr. Sarfo said the drain will connect at one end to the recently completed section within the Accra Academy campus and at the other end to the existing drain at Pamprom Junction.
He said the construction is expected to run from September 2026 to October 2027.
The project forms part of government’s broader flood prevention and mitigation programme aimed at addressing perennial flooding in Accra.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
The former Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, has withdrawn from the party’s National Chairmanship race.
In a statement issued yesterday, Chairman Wontumi who is currently serving a 20-year jail term said his decision was driven by his love for the party and his unwillingness to let his personal circumstances distract the NPP from its rebuilding efforts.
“There are moments in the life of a man when the heart wants to continue, but duty demands sacrifice. Moments when one must quietly set aside personal ambition, not because the dream has died, but because the family he loves must not be made to carry his burden. Today, I find myself at such a painful moment,” he wrote.
He disclosed that after many nights of prayer, sober reflection and consultations with his family, legal team, party elders, campaign team and trusted supporters, he concluded that his present situation must not become an additional burden on the NPP.
“This is not the decision my heart desired, but sometimes, true love requires us to release what we deeply want in order to protect what we love even more,” he added.
Recounting his years of service, Chairman Wontumi said he had served the party with everything within him, walking through heat and rain, travelling to remote communities and standing with the grassroots in both victory and defeat.
“For many years, I have served the NPP with everything within me… The NPP is not merely a political party to me. It is my family. It is my home. It is a cause to which I have dedicated a significant part of my life,” he stated.
He explained that the party, already carrying the pain of electoral defeat and the huge responsibility of preparing for the future, should not be made to carry his personal weight.
“That is why I cannot allow my present situation or personal ambition to distract the party from the difficult work of rebuilding. I cannot ask the party to carry my weight when it is already carrying the pain of defeat and the enormous responsibility of preparing for the battle ahead. I would rather carry this pain quietly than allow the party I love to suffer because of me,” he said.
He further sympathized with his supporters across the 16 regions, acknowledging that the decision would be painful for many who had sacrificed for his campaign.
“To my teeming supporters across all sixteen regions, I know this message will hurt. I know many of you will read it with tears in your eyes because I understand the sacrifices you have made for this journey,” he said.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
