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The Deputy Minister for Railways Development, Kwaku Asante Boateng, has shed light on the reasons behind the slow progress of railway projects in the country.
Speaking at a workshop on the new railway master plan, Mr Boateng mentioned that the challenges include a lack of proper maintenance due to inadequate funds. He explained that the sector has been competing with other critical needs of the government, which has led to the halt of many railway initiatives aimed at reducing pressure on the road network.
“We have competing needs as a nation. We have the education sector competing with health, competing with the agric sector, and when it comes to prioritising our needs and we have health challenges, we have educational challenges with the construction of rail is pushed to the background because it’s not immediate,” he said.
Mr Boateng further explained that railway projects are often abandoned due to the remote importance of rail construction in the country, where its direct impact is not felt, unlike critical sectors such as health and education, which require additional funding because they cannot be deferred.
“So whenever government is constraint financially, construction of rail or such a capital-intensive venture are relegated to the background,” he added.
The deputy minister’s comments come after various railway networks across the country have deteriorated due to the challenges faced by the sector over time.
The government of Ghana has been making efforts to revamp the railway sector, including the construction of new railway lines and the rehabilitation of old ones. However, the lack of funds and competition with other critical needs have slowed down progress in the sector.