Efficient railway sector key to Ghana’s growth – Lecturer

A senior lecturer at the Catholic University College in Sunyani in the Brong Ahafo region Dr. Charles Addo has commended President Akufo-Addo for his commitment towards the development of the railway sector.

According to him, the development of the sector will be instrumental to the overall industrialization of the country.

In the view of the Dr. Addo, who authored the book “Returning the elephant into the city: the unfinished contract with Ghana” an efficient railway sector will automatically bridge the poverty gap between the south and northern part of the country since business activities will be enhanced across the regions.

“Ghana’s economy can rapidly be transformed and industrialized through effective railway system to link the South to the North of Ghana. At once, it will become a monument of the NPP’s commitment to the development of every piece of Ghana, with no ethnic region of Ghana left behind.

“It is a very expensive project for a nation but all the new government need is commitment. It can be done using the private sector through project financing that involves international consortium. Often the major problem here for private investors is whether the services would attract adequate patronage to pay for it. Luckily for Ghana, we have landlocked countries like Burkina Faso and Mali that could help increase patronage for this project,” the economics lecturer told StarrFMonline.com in an interview.

He added: “Railway transport occupies a significant role in the transport system of a country because the development of trade, industry and commerce of a country is largely dependent on the development of railways. It is a very expensive project for a nation, but Ghana can learn from the experience of China, which is noted for undertaking this kind of project at one-third lower cost”.