The National Democratic Congress (NDC) government, under the leadership of John Dramani Mahama, initiated the Tema to Akosombo (now Mpakadan) railway project to enhance connectivity between the Tema Port and the northern regions of Ghana and neighboring countries.
This ambitious project aimed at improving the transportation of goods, such as cement, fuel products, and other cargos, to landlocked countries like Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger.
To ensure the success of the project, the NDC government engaged the EXIM Bank of India for additional funds to develop the Lake Volta Port at Akosombo. This port was crucial for facilitating the transportation of cargos via the Volta Lake to and from the northern parts of the country and beyond. However, the current Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government has failed to follow through with the original vision behind the project.
Despite delaying the project and neglecting to secure funding for the development of the lake transportation component, the current government has only managed to secure additional funding to extend the railway line by 13km for technical reasons. This decision has rendered the project incomplete and unsustainable, as it now only serves to transport passengers without the necessary infrastructure for cargo transportation.
It is clear that the original intention of the NDC government to build a comprehensive railway network for the efficient transportation of goods has been abandoned by the current administration. The project, as it stands now, is a far cry from the visionary concept designed by the NDC, and the government’s attempt to celebrate its distortion is nothing but a celebration of mediocrity.
Moving forward, it is essential for the next NDC government to revisit the original concept and implement a proper lake transport system to make the Tema-Mpakadan railway line viable.
