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GRDA responds to TUC and GRCL on Tema–Mpakadan railway operations
The Ghana Railway Development Authority (GRDA) has stated that the threats by the Trades Union Congress (TUC) and the Railway Workers’ Union of the Ghana Railway Company Limited (GRCL) to resist the operationalisation of the Tema–Mpakadan Standard Gauge Railway Line were based on a deliberate mislinking of salary arrears at GRCL to the start of proof-of-revenue services on the line.
The Authority indicated that neither the TUC nor GRCL had engaged it or the Ministry of Transport before issuing their threats.
It maintained that attempts to conflate GRCL’s internal management failures with GRDA’s lawful mandate were misplaced and risked undermining a strategic national investment worth USD 447 million.
According to the Authority, the Railways Act, 2008 (Act 779) vests all railway assets in GRDA and empowers it to develop, administer and regulate the sector, including operationalising newly constructed lines and conducting proof-of-revenue services.
It stressed that the start of operations on the Tema–Mpakadan line fell squarely within its statutory remit and that no operator, including GRCL, had inalienable rights over any railway line in Ghana.
GRDA further explained that under the open-access model, multiple public or private operators could apply for operating licences and slots.
It disclosed that 17 entities had submitted applications but GRCL was not among them, adding that the company neither possessed the requisite rolling stock for standard gauge operations nor had trained staff for the line.
The Authority gave background that the 97.7-kilometre Tema–Mpakadan line, completed in December 2024 at a cost of USD 447 million, formed a vital multimodal corridor linking Tema Port to Buipe via the Volta Lake and to Burkina Faso through the Tema–Ouagadougou corridor.
It said that international standards required passenger service trials to test systems such as signalling, train control, traffic management, station facilities and maintenance depots before full commercial operations.
GRDA reported that it had successfully completed four days of test runs and that proof-of-revenue services would commence on October 1, 2025.
The Authority noted that the line was funded through a USD 447 million loan from the Indian EXIM Bank on-lent to GRDA by the Ministry of Finance, which it must service through revenues generated from operations.
It said that the open-access model had been adopted to ensure fairness, competition and sustainability, with train traffic to be centrally managed by GRDA.
GRDA pointed to what it called systemic inefficiencies within GRCL. It said that despite heavy government investments, the company had failed to sustain operations, diverted funds, procured defective materials and engaged in the illegal sale of parts of the network without the Authority’s consent.
It listed issues such as derailments on the Western Line, abandonment of materials, empty rehabilitated stores, staff on foreign payrolls producing no value and unauthorised disposal of locomotives and wagons.
The Authority described as false the claim that GRCL’s predicament was its responsibility and said the evidence showed a consistent pattern of mismanagement and unlawful actions by GRCL itself.
It expressed disappointment that the TUC had failed to engage GRDA and the Ministry before issuing threats and called on the union to demand accountability from GRCL’s management instead of shielding them.
GRDA also raised concerns about acts of vandalism against point machines and signalling equipment recorded after TUC’s public declaration of intent to resist government’s railway agenda.
It warned that the TUC and its affiliates would be held accountable for any sabotage, destruction or disruption of railway infrastructure during the period of their declared action.
The Authority assured the public that the Tema–Mpakadan line, a strategic national asset, would commence proof-of-revenue operations on October 1, 2025, in line with government directives and Act 779.
It reiterated its resolve to deliver safe, reliable and efficient services and to safeguard the nation’s investment for the benefit of all Ghanaians.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Ghana’s parliament has marked the 2nd edition of May Day 2026 under the theme “ Welcome Home”.
It was special day meant to celebrate the invaluable support of the workforce, recognizing the commitment, resilience, and contributions of workers to institutional growth and national development.
Delivering the message on behalf of the Speaker, the 1st Deputy Speaker, Bernard Ahiafor, described the theme as very apt, appropriate, and timely, noting that Parliament is more than a workplace, it is a shared home.
He emphasized that we cannot speak about work without speaking about people, reminding everyone that the true measure of our work is the well-being of our people.
He urged that our traditional clothing become an integral part of our everyday clothing, and that our local languages must become integral to our daily lives, interwoven into education and practiced at home.
Referencing Standing Order 63, which captures the use of local language as optional in deliberations, he encouraged a renewed commitment to identity, saying it is significant that we “come home” and present who we are so future generations can inherit a story they can fully tell.
The Clerk, Mr. Ebenezer Ahumah Djietror, in his remarks commended officers for their dedication and devotion to duty, calling on them to go the extra mile and leave legacies.
Echoing the reminder that an unexamined life is not worth living, he described the event as an invitation to reconnect with our roots through cultural revival.
The Deputy Clerk, C&FMS, Dr. Gloria Sarku Kumawu, urged all not to forget their roots, the people behind the stories of ministries, industries, and the strides made both in-house and beyond.
What began last year has now become a meaningful tradition, showcasing Ghanaian heritage, fostering unity, and encouraging innovation under the principle of diversity for unity and diversity for progress, she added.
The gathering brought together leadership, public officials, and staff across all levels, along with the media, standing as a unifying platform that honored service, celebrated culture, and reaffirmed a shared commitment to national development.
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Manhyia would serve as Ghana’s unifying force …Otumfuo assures on commemoration of 27 years on the Golden Stool
The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, last Friday celebrated his 27th enstoolment with a colourful and culture-rich ceremony at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi, drawing a distinguished gathering of dignitaries from across Ghana and beyond.
Clad in splendid kente and adorned in rich traditional regalia, the dignitaries added colour and elegance to the occasion, as the palace grounds came alive with a vibrant display of Ghanaian culture.
Traditional drumming, dancing and symbolic rites underscored the deep-rooted heritage of the Ashanti Kingdom, captivating guests and reaffirming the value of tradition in modern society.
Speaking at a high-level Executive Gala organised by the Diaspora Affairs Office of the Office of the President in strategic partnership with the E ON 3 Group, the ‘World-Meets-in-Ghana’ gala, the Asantehene urged Ghanaians to guard against the divisive tendencies of partisan politics.
The event was to honour the Asantehene’s nearly three-decade reign under the theme ‘Advancing Peace and Sustainable Economic Development through Royal Vision’.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu II noted that such attitudes threatened the country’s long-standing values of unity, civility and brotherliness.
He assured that Manhyia would continue to serve as a unifying force for the nation.
The celebration also featured the presentation of commemorative gold coins to notable national leaders, including the President, John Dramani Mahama, former Presidents John Agyekum Kufuor and Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as well as Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, a former Vice President in recognition of their contributions to peace and national development.
By Spectator Reporter
