General News of Tuesday, 18 August 2009

Source: GNA

Passengers advised not to sit on locomotives

Accra, Aug. 18, GNA - The Ghana Railway Development Authority (GRDA) on Tuesday advised passengers who travel on the Accra-Nsawam shuttle to stop sitting on the locomotive, hanging in the coaches and standing on the doorways of moving trains.

It warned that apart from the apparent dangers about the safety and lives of such passengers, the act was unlawful.

A statement signed in Accra by Mr Kweku Sersah-Johnson for the Acting Chief Executive also asked squatters who had encroached on the "railway land preservation and clearance areas within 50 feet from all rail tracks", to relocate on or before Monday, August 24 or face forcible ejection.

It said all institutions, organisations and individuals who had encroached on the property and land of the company in any part of the country should stay off such properties with immediate effect. GRDA warned that it was a criminal offence for anyone to steal, tamper with or illegally remove any asset or part of property belonging to the Company.

"In all circumstances, offenders and perpetrators will be apprehended and prosecuted," the statement said.