The Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana has described as welcoming the introduction of the Ministry of Railway Development due to the enormous benefit rail transportation will bring to the country.

According to the group, investments in railways will enhance trade within the country as well as facilitate business with neighbouring countries if rail transportation is improved.

Speaking in an interview with Class Business, the Executive Secretary of the Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana, Sampson Awingobit, said the Railway Ministry would reduce needless congestion at the ports.

“If the railway system that government is proposing comes to be, cargo can be transported to inland areas and that will help ease the congesting situation in our ports,” he noted.

He explained: “It will help increase business transactions with African countries that are not having ports that make use of our ports.”

Ghana signed the Continental Free Trade Agreement (CFTA) at the recent 28th AU Summit, which is aimed at ensuring a significant growth of intra-African trade.

The AU hopes to use trade as an engine of growth for sustainable development in African countries.

For Mr Awingobit, railways cannot be excluded if that aim is to be achieved.