GOV'T. TO AWARD RAIL LINES CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT IN JULY

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The Minister of Railways Development, Joe Ghartey says the country’s railway development is one of the top priorities of the Government. 

He said plans are far advanced to short list companies who have expressed interest to revamp the sector and that by July this year, contracts will be awarded in this respect. 

Mr. Ghartey made this known to journalists in Kumasi during a working tour some of selected railway stations in the metropolis to ascertain what needs to be done to ensure the smooth take off of the railways redevelopment project. 

He visited the Adum and Aboabo Railways stations to see at first hand the current situation there. Mr. Ghartey said one of the drawbacks to railways development in the country has been human encroachment on areas earmarked as on railway lands. 

He said it is against this backdrop that, the Ministry of Railways Development will be establishing an independent committee to investigate all sale and transfer of railways lands. 

Mr. Ghartey explained that the committee will be mandated to investigate all persons, including but not limited to, all officials of the Ministry of Railways Development and the Ministries that have been in charge of the sector before the creation of the Ministry of Railways Development, past and current officials of the Ghana Railway Development Authority and the Ghana Railway Company Limited. 

The committee will also be tasked to make appropriate recommendations for criminal sanctions for onward submission to the Attorney-General for prosecution. 

Mr. Ghartey appealed to all District, Municipal, and Metropolitan Assemblies that have lands earmarked for railways development to take immediate steps to stop any further encroachment on such lands. 

The Assemblies should also disregard any application for permits to build or develop railway lands or to change the scheme for the use of railway lands in any way. 

Mr. Ghartey was however quick to add that all persons who have been granted any right to any railway lands by officials of the Ministry of Railways Development, the Ghana Railway Development Authority or Ghana Railway Company Limited, should produce documents in this respect to the Ministry of Railways Development for verification.



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