1,900 Railway Workers to go home

Accra, Oct.7, GNA - About 1,900 workers of the Ghana Railway Company (GRC) would be redundant following a rationalization programme the Ministry of Railways, Ports and Harbours has embarked upon. Notice has already been given to 112 of them.

Briefing the media at the Meet-The-Press Series in Accra on Tuesday, Professor Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi, Sector Minister, said given the expectations of the concessionaire, only 2,000 staff could be employed

He said: "The Ministry is working out a deal to re-engage those lined up to be redeployed.

"The railway industry has various segments of operation and these are areas that such personnel could take advantage of by forming companies that will provide services for the industry."

Prof. Ameyaw-Akumfi said the GRC had a staff strength of 14,000 about 10 years ago, but with the deterioration of coaches, equipment, lines and other services that were to support it, the GRC had no choice but to rationalize.

The Minister said the concession programme would be completed by the end of the first quarter of 2004, adding: "The signs for now give cause for optimism."

He said the Western, Central and eastern Lines had been given out on concession an Accra suburban network linking Tema, Kasoa, Akosombo, Adenta, Dodowa and Nsawam to the Central Business District of Accra would follow.

Prof. Ameyaw-Akumfi said the Ministry had opted for a build operate and transfer system to be handled by the private sector in the shortest possible time.

He said Government was committed to extending the railway network to the Northern parts of the country.

"In this regard, the Ministry is currently engaged in discussions with the Chinese Embassy for a team of experts to visit Ghana in December for a study on the viability of the extension programme."

The Minister said other financiers had also expressed interest in supporting Ghana to carry out the feasibility studies.

He said the Government's programme to bring back the national railway system falls in line with the New Partnership for Africa's Development's (NEPAD) objective of ensuring that the railway network of the continent was linked from Cape Town to Cairo.