UPCOMING PROJECTS
The Ghana Railway Development Authority, along with the Ministry of Railways Development, having reviewed the Railway Master Plan of Ghana, has identified specific phases of the Master Plan as Priority Projects for the next few years. The original proposed time frame for the execution of these Priority Projects is from July 2016 to June 2020. These Priority Projects are the Phase 2, and some railway lines in Phase 3 and Phase 5 of the Master Plan. Phase 2 covers approximately a total of 1234 kilometers .
It involves the construction of the following: Takoradi - Kumasi (Western )Line (339km)(with branch line from Dunkwa to Awaso) Accra- Kumasi(Eastern) Line (300km) Kumasi- Paga (Central Spine) Rail (595 km) The lines in Phase 3 that have been included in Priority Projects for the next four years are the following: Kumasi- Nyinahin Line (58 km) Tamale-Yendi Line (102 km). The total length of the rail network identified as Priority Projects is 1394 kilometers.
Implementing these Priority Projects will create jobs and facilitate trade and industrial development. This will in turn stimulate economic growth. In the process, new towns and cities will be developed and older towns would be revitalized. The railway projects will take the burden of the road network and ensure longer lifespans of newly constructed roads. The development of the railways sector will completely transform the economy. There are unlimited opportunities for the private sector in the development of the railway network, in the provision of related services and in the development of associated infrastructure.
The Government of Ghana and GRDA welcome various forms of collaboration with the private sector in the development of the rail network, the provision of railway-related services and associated infrastructure in Ghana. The railway lines to be completed in the period, 2016 to 2020 are set out below. All the lines will be for both passenger and freight. Circumstances have caused a necessary review of the 2020 completion date, Covid-19 being a significant part. Consequently, each line signed up subsequently has had to have individual end dates.
TAKORADI - KUMASI (WESTERN LINE 339 KM)
The Western Rail Line runs from the Takoradi Port to Kumasi with a branch line from Dunkwa to Awaso. It is a total of 339 kilometers. Today it is arguably the line that lends itself most readily to a BOT or BOOT Model of financing. This is because of the existence of various of takers and potential of takers on the route. i. A contract was signed in November 2017 with Amandi Holdings Ltd. for the start of the construction of the new Standard Gauge railway line between Kojokrom and Eshiem on the Western Line. This was for a rail length of 5km only.
ii. Subsequently in February 2018, a further 17km of new Standard Gauge rail contract between Eshiem and Manso, was signed with Amandi Holdings Ltd thereby totaling 22km. These two contracts were amalgamated into one in August 2020.
iii. In April 2019, GRDA, represented by the CEO, Mr. Richard Diedong Dombo, signed a USO 500m with China Railway WUJU Group Corporation for the continuation of the development of the Western Railway line on the Standard Gauge
ACCRA - KUMASI EASTERN LINE 300 KM
The Eastern Line covers a distance of 300 km from Accra to Kumasi with a branch line from Accra to Tema. Apart from the 20 km Accra - Tema Line, which is used for passenger services, the rest of the line is in disrepair and inoperative. The town of Kibi is between Accra and Kumasi. Here, significant bauxite deposits of approximately 180 million metric tons may be found. Mt. Ejuanema, also on the Eastern Line has 5 million metric tons of bauxite. Both deposits are yet to be exploited. The Eastern Line also connects to the Central Spine which terminates on the border with Burkina Faso at Paga. It has potential for significant passenger as well as freight traffic. A proposed inland rail terminal (Boankra Inland Port) also lies on the Eastern Rail Line.
Pricewaterhouse Coopers (PwC) acted as the Transaction Advisors for this line. They have concluded all the tender stages for the development of the line. A final preferred bidder has been short listed. A contract is expected to be signed before end of 2020.The estimated cost of this line is US$1,680,000,000
KUMASI - PAGA CENTRAL SPINE LINE 595 KM
The Central Spine will link Kumasi in the central part of Ghana to Paga, which is in the
north, on the border with Burkina Faso. The Central Spine is 595 km. When developed it
would facilitate the transportation of passengers and freight cargo from the South to the
North of Ghana and onward to Burkina Faso and the Sahelian Region. This will lead to a
major transformation of the economy. At the Kumasi Junction, the Central Line splits into
two lines, the Eastern Line and the Western Line.
The Ministry of Railways Development has in April 2019 signed a commercial contract
with the Chinese Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) as the chosen
contractor on this route. Pending the necessary statutory approvals, CCECC has
undertaken pre-feasibility studies on the financial, economic, social and environmental
studies as well as surveying and mapping out the right-of-way. The estimated cost of this
line is US$3,332,000,000
KUMASI - NYINAHIN (58 KM)
This line is 58 km with a branch extension from Kumasi. Its importance is that it has 750 million metric tons of bauxite, yet to be exploited at Nyinahin. The estimated cost of the line is US$324,800,000.
TAMALE - YENDI (102 KM)
This line is 102 km. At Yendi (Sheni) lies 2.7 billion metric tons of unexploited iron ore. The line is a branch of the Central Spine Line. The approximate cost of the line US$571,200,000.
TEMA-PAGA (VIA YENDI-TAMALE) (710KM)
The Ghana-Burkina Faso rail connectivity is routed here. Costing at about USD 2.982 billion. This line links from the Tema-Mpakadan line and therefore provides direct rail access between Ghana and Burkina Faso, and the Sahelian region. It presents a huge economic corridor when completed