Ghana Railway Corporation

Railway map of Ghana showing dates of construction

Operations began in 1898 under the Gold Coast Government Railways with headquarters in Sekondi.[2][3][4][5][6] The headquarters were transferred to Takoradi after the building of Takoradi Harbour, and railways and ports were jointly administered as the Ghana Railway & Ports Authority.[7] In 1976, SMCD 95 separated the railway from ports as the Ghana Railway Corporation.[3][8][9] The company enjoyed the status of a public corporation until 19 March 2001, when it became a limited liability company.[1]

The original 304-kilometre (189 mi) Eastern Railway was built in 1923 by the British for the purpose of hauling minerals and cocoa.[3] Construction of the Ghana Railways started before there were any port facilities, and locomotives and other equipment had to be lightered over the beach.[10]

In 2010, a contract was signed to construct a railway from Paga (on the border with Burkina Faso) to Kumasi; plus a branch from Tamale to Yendi.[11]

The railway network in Ghana resembles a large capital "A" with 3 components - a "Western Division" (the left leg of the "A") from Secondi/Takoradi to Kumasi (280 km, 168 mi), an "Eastern Division" (the right leg of the "A") from Accra to Kumasi, and a "Central Division" (the horizontal bar of the "A") from Huni Valley to Kotoku.[7][12] The 953 km (570 mi) network includes branch lines on the "Western Division" to Prestea and Awaso, a branch line to Kade on the "Central Division", and branch lines to Tema and Shai Hills on the "Eastern Division".[12]

Very little of the railway network remains in operation. Accra to Tema, Accra to Kotoku, and Awaso to Dunkwa and south to Takoradi are the only parts that are known to be in operation.[4][12][13] Very little is known about the current operating state of the rest of the system.

The following table outlines the dates of construction of the various parts of the railway network. (See map below right.)

Note 1 - Tarkwa to Prestea is a branch line on the Western Division that services manganese mines.[14]

Note 2 - Kojokrom is the junction of the line to Secondi (now abandoned). The other leg serves the port of Takoradi.

Note 3 - Dunkwa to Awaso is a branch line on the Western Division that services bauxite mines.

Note 4 - Huni Valley (Tinkwakrom) is the junction of the Central Division with the Western Division.

Note 5 - Achiasi to Kade is now a branch line on the Central Division. It used to service timber companies and for cocoa transportation. Oda was an important station on this branch.

Note 6 - Kotoku is the junction of the Central Division with the Western Division.

British-built 4-8-2 oil-burning locomotive waits to leave Accra on mixed overnight train in July 1974.

The following table lists some of the stations and flagstops (halts) that existed at one time on the three Divisions. There may be more. In the latter days of operation on these lines, very few of them were in service.

Note 1 - No passenger service.

Note 2 -

Note 3 - Station/stop may no longer be in service.

• Railway coupling - AAR coupler[15][16]
• Brake (railway) - Air brake [17]
• axleload - 25T [18]

The system is single-track with the exception of about 30 km (19 mi) of double track between Takoradi and Manso on the Western Line.

Railway gauge is currently 3'6". The latest proposals in 2006 for upgrade and expansion include conversion of 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) (narrow gauge) to 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) (standard gauge).[19] As an interim position, dual gauge sleepers are being installed to facilitate the conversion to Standard Gauge.

In 2007 a consortium led by Dubai-based Kampac Oil Co signed a US$1.6 billion concession to develop the 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) (Cape gauge) Western Railway.[20] Over five years a 500-kilometre (310 mi) line is to be constructed from Awaso to Hamile near the border with Burkina Faso. The government awarded a US$1.4 billion concession for the Eastern Railway to Peatrack earlier in the year.[21]

In March 2015 it was announced that a new suburban service linking Sekondi and Takoradi would begin by the end of 2015.[22] The US$100 million project, managed by Amanda Holdings, involves the rebuilding of 30 of 1067mm gauge track to standard gauge, and the acquisition of two DMUs for service. The Accra - Nsawam and Kumasi - Ejisu suburban lines are also to be rebuilt.

A plant to manufacture concrete sleepers is to be set up in 2008 at the strategic railway junction at Huni Valley.[33][34]

• Rail transport in Ghana
• Transport in Ghana

• Ministry of Transportation
• Railways in Ghana (photos)
• Addresses
• Rethinking rail
• Ghana Railway Corporation Managing Director
• Rehabilitation of railway line on course MyJoyOnline 16 March 2007
• Development; Inland port
• Ghana Railways at Ghana-Net
• Ghana Railways - Accra Station pictures
• Ghana revival starts as concessions are signed Railway Gazette International 10 September 2007
• Overview from Railway Gazette International
• The Railways Of Ghana - 2007
• Ghana Railways In 2003
• A History Of The Railways Of Ghana Circa 1930, Complete With Period Photos
• A Look At The Railways Of Ghana In 1914 Through The Eyes Of A British Reporter (Complete With Period Construction Photos