Building Smart Cities with Railway Infrastructure

Is Ghana ready?

By Benson Afful

Mr. Joe Ghartey, Minister for Railway Development, has set a vision to develop a modern, robust and integrated railway system as well as associated infrastructure to serve as a catalyst and backbone for the transformation of the economy and make Ghana’s rail transport system the lead in Africa.

Railway transportation has become an important part of the discussion when building smart cities to improve the mobility and productivity of the people within a country.

Building a thriving railway sector becomes a rapid movement of the people to carry out their daily business activities in highly populated urban cities. In India, for example, the Ministry of Railways teamed up with the Ministry of Urban Development to ensure smart railway stations are built as part of the country’s ongoing Smart Cities Mission.

It is estimated more than 400 stations across India currently being redeveloped to provide easier access and improved amenities to passengers.

Fifty-five percent of the global population lives in cities currently, and by 2050 it is expected that sixty-eight percent of the people will be urban-dwellers.

According to the United Nations, the world’s urban population grew from 751 million in 1950 to 4.2 billion in 2018 and set to reach 6.7 billion by the middle of the century. As they grow, cities are coming under increasing pressure to reduce their environmental impact, both for the health of their citizens and the planet.

Alongside rapid population growth, the Fourth Industrial Revolution set to change the face of cities and how they function. The concept of smart cities is gaining traction as a means of solving economic, social, and environmental challenges in urban centers.

In Ghana, however, much has not been done to develop its railway sector in the last four decades. Until recently, the current administration has made it a top priority to develop the sector to make it vibrant. The sector was dormant with rickety railway lines making transport and movement of goods within the West African nation very difficult thereby, limiting the country to propel from low-middle income country to that of a developed one.

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In the major cities of the country such as Accra, Kumasi, and Takoradi, workers and commuters have to survive every day enduring hectic vehicular traffic situation on the roads. The lack of a robust railway sector puts pressure on the road commute, the only affordable way of transportation in the country.

Like in many developed cities, commuters have many options when moving from one place to the next. A city well-developed transport sector, reduced the pressure on one particular transport sector since there are alternatives to the commuting public.

The Ghana economy heavily reliant on agriculture; however, farmers, as well as producers, complain about the difficulty of transporting their produce from farming communities to the market, mostly in urban areas.

Assuming office in 2017, President Nana Addo Akufo-Addo, with the creation of a ministry for railway development, Ghana has seen remarkable development of its railway sector.

Mr. Joe Ghartey, Minister for Railway Development, has set a vision to develop a modern, robust and integrated railway system as well as associated infrastructure to serve as a catalyst and backbone for the transformation of the economy and make Ghana’s rail transport system the lead in Africa.

The government in 2019 allocated an amount of Ghc636million for the ministry’s priority projects and programs. With the railway sector, part of the program allocated budget.

The President, this year, commended the sector minister and the Ghana Railway Company for the country’s railway development project. As part of the development, a 30 km narrow-gauge railway line from Accra to Tema rehabilitated last year. The section of the line from Achimota to Nsawam, about 40km, also rehabilitated, and test runs commenced for the relaunch of the suburban commuter rail services from Accra to Nsawam.

The engagement of a strategic investor for the development of the 303 km Eastern Railway Line on the standard gauge from Accra – Tema to Kumasi with a branch line from Busoso to Atiwa through Kyebi on Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) basis with Ghanaian participation is at the negotiation stage.

The Western Railway line, rehabilitation of a 56 km narrow gauge line from Kojokrom to Trkwa through Nsuta, the project according to the ministry, is 75 percent complete and undertaken in-house by the workers of GRCL.

Though the current administration has shown a commitment to the development of the country’s railway sector, the capital-intensive nature of building rail infrastructure has forced the government to run to development partners for support.

The government, in its 2020 budget allocation, did not make any allocation to capital expenditure that will ensure the building of rail lines.

The Ministry of Railway Development told the Parliamentary Committee on Transport that the government will not use its funds to build the lines due to the huge amount required for achieving this.

It is estimated government will require US$7 billion to revive the railway sector in Ghana.

The US$7 billion projection for revamping the railways caters to the construction of the Eastern Line from Accra to Kumasi the Western Line from Takoradi to Kumasi and the Central Spine from Kumasi to Paga with two branch-lines from Kumasi to Nyinahin where there are bauxite reserves. And the Tamale to Yendi areas where significant iron ore reserves found. The distance covered by these railroads would be 1,400 km.

The railway sector, one of the prioritized ministries among the infrastructure sector the government is interested in supporting its development.

Total of GH435 million earmarked for the Ministry of Railways Development for the implementation of its program for the 2020 fiscal year. Of this amount, GH¢80 million was allocated for management and administration, while 354 million went into rail transport.

In line with its mandate, the ministry and its implementing agencies undertook several projects. A 30 km narrow-gauge railway line from Accra to Tema rehabilitated last year, a section of the line from Achimota to Nsawam, 40km also rehabilitated, and test runs commenced for the relaunch of the suburban commuter rail services from Accra to Nsawam.

The railway lines are part of Ghana’s efforts of interconnection projects, which will link the country to other West African countries and improve trade relations between Ghana and its neighbors.

Mr. Joe Ghartey, Minister for Railway Development, said his government was committed to delivering modern railway systems that ease the movement of people, and goods thus improving trade, not only for the people of Ghana but also for its neighboring countries.