GHANA – Afcon Infrastructure, one of India’s largest infrastructure companies, has signed a contract with the he Ghana Railways Development Authority (GRDA) for the construction of a 51-kilometer standard gauge railway line.
The US$419 million standard gauge railway will be the second standard gauge railway project that the India- based infrastructure company is building in Ghana after the Tema Mpakadan rail line.
As per the railway contract, the new standard gauge railway line will run from Obuasi to Eduadin in the Ashanti region.
The railway line will be an extension of Ghana’s Western Rail line and is expected to be complete within 36 months from the date of commencement.
Ghana’s Western Line is deemed by government as critical to the successful establishment of the new bauxite and aluminum industry being developed in the region, as it will provide a cost-effective and efficient way of transporting the ore and the processed raw material.
A number of railway projects have already been launched with a few others being completed and already in operation.
Earlier this year, Ghana inaugurated the 15-kilometer Sekondi – Takoradi railway line. Before the Sekondi- Takoradi railway, Ghana had never added constructed any railway post-independence.
The only railway operating in the country was the 947-kilometer narrow-gauge rail network bequeathed to the country by the colonialists, which according to President Akufo-Addo was barely 10% was operational.
The Sekondi-Takoradi railway was followed by the commissioning of a new 85-kilometre standard gauge railway line from Kumasi to Obuasi in September this year.
Other railway projects that are in the advanced stages are the Takoradi Harbour to Kojokrom railway, and the Manso to Huni Valley railway.
Speaking shortly after signing the contract Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of GRDA, Richard Dombo, said based on the great work Afcons Infrastructure Limited has done on the Tema-Mpakadan rail line, it was not difficult for Government to award them the contract.
Mr. Dombo revealed that the new Obuasi-Eduadin rail line will involve the construction of construction of six railway stations, construction of pedestrian footbridges, and will also involve the manufacture and delivery of 64 freight wagons.
Vice President of AfCons Infrastructure Limited, U v Singh, thanked the Government of Ghana for once again reposing trust in the company.
He assured the Government and people of Ghana that Afcons will deliver to expectation, saying railways will be the game-changer for Ghana’s economic development.
Afcon Infrastcure is part of the Shapoor Pallonji Group, a US$7 billion business conglomerate in India with interests in construction, real estate, textiles, engineered goods, home appliances, shipping, publications, power, and biotechnology.
The company provides infrastructure services and is involved in the construction of infrastructure projects such as viaducts, flyovers, metros, bridges, pipelines, roads, ports, barrages, and oil and gas projects among others.
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