Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson has announced plans to construct the Western Corridor Railway Line using petroleum revenues and mineral royalties, insisting that the government will not borrow to finance the project.

The railway line will run from Takoradi Harbour in the Western Region through Nsuta and Awaso to the Nyinahin bauxite enclave in the Ashanti Region.

Presenting the 2027 Budget Statement and Economic Policy to Parliament on Thursday, November 12, 2026, Dr Ato Forson said the government intended to use the same financing model adopted for the Accra-Kumasi Expressway to deliver the railway project.

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“Mr Speaker, we now propose to apply the same financing model for the Accra-Kumasi Expressway to the Western Corridor Railway project,” he said.

He explained that petroleum revenue accruing to the budget and mineral royalties would be dedicated solely to the construction of the railway in 2027 and 2028.

“Mr Speaker, we will build the Western Corridor Railway Line from Takoradi through Nsuta and Awaso to Nyinahin with our own money,” he stated.

“Just as we pledged for the Accra–Kumasi Expressway, we will not borrow to build this railway. Our petroleum revenues and mineral royalties will finance it,” he added.

The Finance Minister disclosed that the Commander-in-Chief had tasked the Ghana Armed Forces with securing the right of way for the railway project, while detailed feasibility studies, engineering designs, costing and environmental and social assessments were ongoing.

Dr Ato Forson said the railway project was expected to address longstanding transportation challenges that had prevented the country from fully exploiting its bauxite and manganese resources.

“For decades, the lack of adequate rail infrastructure has left much of our bauxite and manganese stranded,” he told Parliament.

He said the Western Corridor Railway would help unlock these mineral resources and put them to work for national development and job creation.

“The Western Corridor Railway will unlock these mineral resources and put them to work for national development and job creation,” he stated.

The Finance Minister further disclosed that Ghana holds an estimated one billion tonnes of bauxite deposits at Awaso and Nyinahin, describing the resource as a major economic opportunity for the country.

“Ghana holds an estimated 1 billion tonnes of bauxite at Awaso and Nyinahin,” he said.

“Mr Speaker, that is hundreds of billions of dollars, sitting in our soil, waiting. Waiting for a railway and energy for value addition here in Ghana,” he added.

The Finance Minister also provided an update on the Accra-Kumasi Expressway, revealing that the project account held US$2.2 billion and GH¢9 billion as of November 11, 2026.

He said the funds, held in the custody of the Bank of Ghana, were equivalent to approximately US$3 billion.

According to him, the engineer's estimate for the 198.7-kilometre, six-lane expressway now stands at US$2.98 billion, following feasibility studies, engineering designs and other preparatory work.

He said the revised estimate was more than US$1 billion below the initial projected cost of about US$4 billion.

Dr Ato Forson added that international competitive tenders had been issued, with the process expected to conclude by the end of 2026.

He further indicated that the savings made on the expressway project would be enough to construct the proposed Accra Orbital Expressway, with preparatory studies already underway.

The government says the two major infrastructure projects will be financed through dedicated petroleum revenues and mineral royalties rather than new borrowing.

NA/AM