Korean consortium calls on Asantehene

Kumasi, Sept. 23, GNA -- A 15-member delegation from Korea, in the country to conduct feasibility studies on the Accra-Kumasi Eastern Rail Line have paid a courtesy call on the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi.

The delegation, comprising railway experts, engineers, financial consultants and communication experts, were accompanied by Mr Kwadwo Afoakwa Sarpong, Ghana's Ambassador to Korea.

They were led to the Palace by Mr Emmanuel Asamoah Owusu-Ansah, Ashanti Regional Minister and officials from the Regional Co-ordinating Council.

Briefing the Asantehene on their mission, Mr Bernard Asamoah, a member of the delegation and Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana-Korea Holding Company, said the team was on a feasibility tour of the country regarding the country's dormant railway system.

He said the Korean government, some international financial institutions and companies were prepared to support the Ghana Government to revamp the railway industry to boost Ghana's economy. Mr Asamoah mentioned two engineering companies, Moon and Yooshin and two telecommunication companies, who were among the team to computerise the railway lines.

He said the study involved the idea of reducing the rail distance from 304 kilometres to 250 kilometres with a speed of 160 kilometres per hour, adding that they were also planning to construct shopping centres in the big towns along the line.

Otumfuo Osei Tutu thanked the delegation for the project and urged them to work assiduously and come out with excellent programme which would be appreciable to all stakeholders.

The Asantehene expressed his personal support for the project and expressed the hope that it was not going to be a nine-day wonder since most companies and groups had made similar intentions but had not shown up.

The Regional Minister had told the delegation to help in the rehabilitation of the jute and shoe factories, which were lying idle in Kumasi.