“We need about two billion dollars for that sector,” he said on The Big Issue on Saturday.

He explained that Joe Ghartey, the Minister nominee for Railways Development should try and raise funds for government to achieve that purpose.

Franklin Cudjoe made comment about the announcement of 36 ministerial nominees named by President Nana Akufo-Addo.

The president’s decision to create some new ministries and re-align others has  been criticized by some Ghanaians.

Railway ministry not necessary

According to Franklin Cudjoe government ought to have merged some of the ministries instead of splitting them citing the transport, aviation and railways ministries as examples.

“It is not necessarily the number of people you appoint to an office that means that you are quite efficient. Railway for instance and aviation and transport and highways is completely superfluous for a country of this small land size,” he said.

Speaking on The Big Issue on Saturday Franklin Cudjoe said the issue with Ghana’s railway sector is lack of money.

“There is a proposal on the table which we made to the Kufuor administration that instead of seeking public investment to be led by the state and its attendant procurement problems why won’t you allow that whole cartage to be owned by different business groups so that you do a road show and allow mining companies and people who cart heavier goods to understand that they own a part of that whole railway sector because we’ve been at it for too long.”

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By: Godwin A. Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin

The post $2 billion needed to revive rail sector – Franklin Cudjoe appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Mr. Cudjoe argued that, the engagement of prospective private sector beneficiaries of enhanced railway services would be a more prudent move towards developing infrastructure for railway development.

[contextly_sidebar id=”BZCuC0sUzst90ZfJKG0WclN9IfsTRqQM”]His comments came as he criticized the high number of ministries under the Nana Akufo-Addo government which currently stands at 25 with more expected to be added.

Speaking on Eyewitness News, the IMANI President opined: “It seems to me that the mantra of trying to be a leaner in government business seems to be faltering away. If we don’t take care we might hit probably 30 ministries.”

The latest list of ministerial nominees revealed that, there will be two new ministries introduced under the Nana Akufo-Addo-led administration, namely the Ministry of Monitoring and Evaluation, and the Ministry of Re-organisation and Special Projects, in addition to the new National Security Ministry which is backed by law.

Out of the Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing, a new Ministry to be known as the Ministry for Sanitation and Water Resources has also been created leaving the Works and Housing Ministry on its own.

Some ministries have however been merged with the Power Ministry coming back under the Energy Ministry.

Mr. Cudjoe lauded the condensation of the Energy Ministry as “great” but noted that the consolidation had not been “compensated properly” in other areas.

‘A festival of ministries’

Mr. Cudjoe singled out Ministry of Transport, Ministry for Railways Development and Ministry for Roads and Highways and described them as “a festival of Ministries for a single monolithic entity.”

“The Ministry of Railway Development is entirely needless because what you do need for railway development is money. You need $2 billion in order to fix the railway,” he said.

Mr. Cudjoe further suggested that, what was needed was the proper influence of the private sector and the most practical approach, in his view, is to ensure that beneficiaries of the railway put together that funding.

“How you go about it is to speak to the heavy users of railways. So miners; let them get involved and help you raise money. Cocoa producers; let them get involved and help you raise money and then you are gone. You don’t need a ministry to integrate railway development,” he explained.

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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Railways ministry needless – Franklin Cudjoe appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.