Ghana Faces Setbacks In Reopening Tema-mpakadan Standard-gauge Rail Line Amid Technical Challenges

Published on October 13, 2025

The much-anticipated reopening of nan Tema-Mpakadan railway statement successful Ghana has been delayed owed to a important method nonaccomplishment that prevented a rider work from reaching its destination connected time. The 97.6 km agelong of rail, portion of nan larger 1000 km Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) task connecting Tema Port to eastbound Ghana and yet Burkina Faso, was initially inaugurated connected October 1. However, method issues meant that nan reopening of nan statement faced disruptions, underscoring nan challenges still facing Ghana’s obstruction web contempt eager modernization plans.

The Tema-Mpakadan statement is nan first shape of an eager obstruction task meant to toggle shape Ghana’s carrier infrastructure and facilitate waste and acquisition crossed West Africa. The project, launched successful November 2024 by nan then-president of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, was intended to amended nan activity of equipment and passengers betwixt nan larboard of Tema and nan Eastern Region of Ghana. The first occurrence of nan inauguration, however, was short-lived arsenic way defects soon led to nan suspension of operations.

In consequence to these challenges, nan Ghana Railway Development Authority (GRDA) quickly launched a repair program, followed by method tests aimed astatine resolving nan infrastructure issues. While these efforts are ongoing, nan delays person disrupted nan timely reopening of nan line, highlighting nan method and logistical obstacles that still request to beryllium flooded successful nan effort to modernize Ghana’s obstruction system.

Ongoing Issues pinch Ghana’s Rail Infrastructure

In summation to nan difficulties faced connected nan Tema-Mpakadan line, Ghana’s obstruction web arsenic a full has been hampered by problems connected different lines arsenic well. The Sekondi-Takoradi-Kojokrom line, which was inaugurated successful 2016 pinch an finance of $165 million, has faced akin issues. Initially, nan statement was intended to connection a much businesslike proscription way for passengers and goods. However, it has struggled pinch infrastructure challenges and rolling banal failures, starring to sporadic work interruptions.

In March 2020, rider services connected nan Sekondi-Takoradi-Kojokrom line were suspended for nan conversion of nan way from 1067mm to 1435mm gauge, pinch services only resuming sporadically later successful nan year. Ultimately, services were wholly suspended successful 2024 arsenic nan line’s information deteriorated further. These issues underline nan broader challenges Ghana faces successful rebuilding and modernizing its obstruction infrastructure.

Slow Progress Despite Ambitious Plans

While Ghana’s obstruction sector has seen respective argumentation initiatives aimed astatine rejuvenating its infrastructure, nan advancement has been slow. One of nan astir eager proposals unveiled by nan Akufo-Addo administration successful 2020 was a scheme to build 4000 km of caller railway lines crossed nan country, estimated to costs $30 billion. However, astir of this scheme remains unbuilt, pinch constricted building advancement and galore of nan projects still successful nan readying aliases backing stages.

In nan meantime, Ghana’s roadworthy network remains heavy congested, peculiarly successful municipality centers for illustration Accra and Tema, making it difficult for nan state to alleviate unit connected nan roadworthy carrier system. Heavy traffic successful these cities contributes to terrible congestion, further complicating efforts to displacement freight carrier from roadworthy to rail.

Looking Ahead: A Long Road to Modernization

Despite these setbacks, nan Ghanaian authorities remains committed to improving nan country’s carrier infrastructure. The Tema-Mpakadan line and different ongoing projects correspond a measurement toward modernizing nan obstruction sector, but overcoming method failures and improving nan network’s capacity will require important finance and time. As Ghana Railway Development Authority continues its activity to reside way defects and amended nan wide information of nan obstruction network, nan revival of nan country’s obstruction strategy remains a captious constituent of its semipermanent economical maturation strategy.

The challenges facing Ghana’s obstruction network exemplify nan complexities progressive successful modernizing carrier infrastructure successful processing countries. However, pinch continued authorities support and world cooperation, nan successful completion of these projects has nan imaginable to importantly trim congestion, amended freight movement, and heighten economical improvement crossed Ghana and its neighboring countries.