The Chairperson of the Governing Board of the Ghana Shippers’ Authority (GSA), Madam Stella Wilson led a team comprising members of the organization’s governing Board and a representation of the Management of GSA to visit the Western rail line currently under construction by the Ghana Railway Development Authority (GRDA).
The rail line is part of the construction of standard gauge lines across the country to facilitate cross-country as well as international trade, with respect to the movement of cargo within Ghana and through Ghana to her neighbouring landlocked countries.
The GSA’s interest stems from the fundamental role the rail line will play in the effective operationalization of the Boankra Inland Port & Logistics Terminal (BILT) located in the Ejisu District of the Ashanti region. BILT is aimed at enhancing Ghana’s international trade, especially with her neighbouring landlocked countries to boost economic growth and through that, drive wealth creation for commercial shippers.
The Managing Director of Ghana Railway Company Limited (GRCL) and member of the GSA governing Board, Ing. Dr. Michael Adjei Anyetei accompanied by the Chief Civil Engineer, of GRCL, Ing. Michael Addison received the team in Takoradi and led them through Kojokrom to Eshiam in the Essikado-Ketan Constituency of the Western region.
Upon arrival at Eshiam, Ing. Dr. Anyetei briefed the team on the extent of works on the construction of the rail line in the area. He provided updates on work done as follows;
- Kojokrom to Manso – 95% complete;
- Takoradi Port – Manso – Huni Valley – 18% complete;
- Kumasi (Adum to Kaase) – 2% complete.
He added that the line from Kaase to Eduadin and Eduadin to Obuasi in the Ashanti Region has been awarded on contract.
Ing. Anyetei assured the visiting team that GRDA is making frantic efforts to ensure that resources are pooled to operationalize the rail line to BILT.
He underscored the pertinence of the timely completion of the lines to the operationalization of BILT, and affirmed the readiness of the GRDA to work assiduously to ensure the timely completion.
Madam Stella Wilson congratulated the GRDA for the work done so far. She expressed the gratitude of GSA for the focused attention and enthusiasm GRDA had given to the project and urged that the momentum should be sustained to enable the timely operationalization of BILT.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of GSA, Mr. Kwesi Baffour Sarpong added his voice to the call for the remaining works to be expedited citing the key role the operationalization of BILT will play in the actualisation of GSA’s new strategic direction.
He explained that GSA’s strategic focus for the next five (5) years is to place the interest of the shipper at the centre of everything it does. This is to enable the effective promotion and protection of the commercial interests in the Shipping and Logistics industry across all modes of transportation, to drive exponential growth in international trade and consequently revenue generation.
Besides the Chairperson, Madam Wilson, and the CEO, Mr. Kwesi Baffour Sarpong, the other members of the Board who visited the western rail line are Dr. Yaw Adu Agyei-Gyamfi, Mrs. Linda Dennis Boateng, Mrs. Esther Gyebi-Donkor, Mr. Seth Twum Akwaboah, and Mrs. Lawrencia Boahemaa Awuah. GSA’s Management was represented by the Director of Operations, Ms. Sylvia Asana Dauda Owu, Head of Operations, Mrs. Monica Josiah, Head of Business Development and Commercial Services, Mr. Fred Asiedu Dartey, Head of Corporate Affairs, Ms. Bernice L. Natue, and Ag. Head of Procurement, Mr. Enoch Brew Amofa.
GSA, the state’s international cargo trade facilitating Agency under the Ministry of Transport, has been in the forefront of seeking resources for the completion and operationalization of BILT.
