An Accra High Court has remanded four artisans for their involvement in causing damage to a newly acquired train on the Tema-Mpakadan rail line during a test run.
The accused individuals, 24-year-old Kokuo Koudjo, 52-year-old Patrick Kwaku Sosu, 28-year-old Alaza Prosper, and 31-year-old Emmanuel Fiadugbe, have been charged with abetment of unlawful damage.
The prosecution, led by Assistant State Attorney Christabel Selma Anafuree, stated that the four accused persons aided a truck driver, Abel Adzidotor, who was previously sentenced for leaving his vehicle unattended on the rail tracks, resulting in the accident.
The presiding judge, Justice Lydia Osei Marfo, remanded the quartet after the prosecution requested more time to conclude its investigations. The accused persons did not enter pleas during the court proceedings.
According to the prosecutor, Mr. Koudjo purchased blocks from a factory at Juapong and transported them to Abortia using the underpass of the railway lines, with the other three accused individuals in the truck. After unloading the blocks at his destination, they attempted to cross the railway lines with their vehicle.
Despite knowing that motor vehicles were not permitted on the railway lines, the accused individuals continued to use the tracks as a shortcut to Juapong.
They placed stones on the railway lines to create a path for the truck to cross, but the vehicle became stuck on the tracks. They then left the scene without warning approaching trains.
The prosecution revealed that there was no legitimate route across the railway tracks to reach the Juapong road, and even if the truck had successfully crossed, natural obstacles would have prevented them from joining the Akuse-Juapong road.
On the day of the incident, the Ghana Railways Company conducted a test run of the new Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) 001 Train from Tema to Mpakadan with engineers from Ghana and Poland on board.
The train collided with the Hyundai Gold truck that was obstructing the railway lines in the Abotia area, causing damage to both vehicles.
The train was taken to Tema for assessment, while the damaged truck was transported to the Juapong police station for further action. The case has been adjourned until May 8 for the accused persons to enter their pleas.
