He said these areas will serve as terminals for the Western and Eastern rail lines respectively.

[contextly_sidebar id=”swPbuZVSgW4JpBAM9LmOraEEFLphjEYW”]Joe Ghartey was speaking to Citi News after a meeting with Railway workers in the Kumasi area.

The Minister explained that, the decision to make the two towns major cargo terminals were because “Adum has been compromised in terms of land, and so it may not be able to create the kind of development we want to create…When you go to Kaase, there is enough space there, in Ejisu too the Chief intends to give us some lands.”

The Minister added that that, both towns were environmentally viable for the project and had thriving businesses.

“Kaase has great potential for development, there are cocoa sheds, and along the cocoa sheds are rail lines already. BOST has tanks there, there are major warehouses, cement etc, so Kaase is a natural choice for developing a major cargo terminal on the Western line. On the Eastern line, when you get to Boankra, there’s a port, but after Boankra at Ejisu, we are in talks with the Ejisumanhene, we intend to get some land and also develop Ejisu into a major cargo terminal. Ejisu already is a bustling business area, and we are told by our developers that it is not a difficult thing to do.”

Addressing issues concerning the Kumasi – Paga Railway line, Joe Ghartey said “we advertised for people to do a feasibility study, it has been shortlisted to three (3), it has gone to the central tender review board and they have passed some comments and have brought it back to the Ministry. The Ministry has worked on those comments and has given it back to them. We hope that very soon, we will choose one. Out of 29, they narrowed it down to three.”

He noted that the Ministry is committed to ensuring that, the railway system is revamped.

He however said, “we cannot sacrifice the law on the back of expediency or speed. We are slow, but we are sure. We have done a lot of background works and we have prepared ourselves for now, and we are ready to unleash what we have prepared unto the public, and I am praying we will get good results.”

The railway sector some years ago was left dormant. While some trains in Accra are still operating, trains in the Kumasi Train area are not in good shape, with railway tracks buried in the sand. Some traders and squatters have taken over parts of the Kumasi Train Station for their businesses and habitation.

President Akufo-Addo in his maiden State of the Nation Address announced the government’s commitment to revamp the railway sector.

The Takoradi-Paga railway line, Tema-Akosombo railway, the Eastern railway line from Tema to Kumasi via Boankra Inland Port, sub-urban railway lines between Accra-Amasaman-Nsawam and Kumasi-Ejisu, are some of the other rail lines government intends to work on.

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By : Loretta Timah/citifmonline.com

The post Kaase, Ejisu to have major railway cargo terminals – Joe Ghartey appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

This is according to a deputy Railways Development Minister, Kwaku Agyenim Boateng.

He said the government will resort to what it calls “multiple financing approaches” to achieve its goal of revamping the rail sector.

[contextly_sidebar id=”XD0bc66JJRxLGJtD5abjigxLlGcqPWvO”]In June this year, the government announced that it will need $7 billion dollars to revamp the sector but different groups including the minority in Parliament said the government was being over-ambitious.

“You are dealing with investors who want to invest. It could be Public Private Partnership, Government of Ghana, or Build Operate and Transfer. Rail investments are huge, so you have to be very innovative in funding such projects. We have received over 202 Letters of Interests. They want to engage the ministry in discussing funding arrangements for the various projects,” he said.

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) in its election 2016 manifesto said improving the rail industry was one of its key infrastructural plans.

It said it would construct an Eastern and Central rail line to improve transportation of goods between the north and the south.

The Eastern Railway line will “cover a distance of 330km and starts from Accra to Kumasi with a branch line from Achimota to Tema.”

The Minister for Finance, Ken Ofori Atta while presenting the 2017 budget statement said “when the line becomes operational, it will decongest the port and facilitate the movement of cargo and passengers to Kumasi and its environs. In 2017, the feasibility studies will be finalized and invite proposals from the private sector.”

On the Central Rail line, he said, he said it will “cover a distance of 200km and spans from Kotoku on the Eastern Line to Huni Valley on the Western Line. It will have a branch line from Achiase to Kade and we plan to undertake feasibility study on the line and extend it to Kibi.”

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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Over 200 investors interested in rail sector dev’t appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

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It’s a Nigeria special edition as the Super Eagles become one of the first African countries to name a provisional 2014 World Cup team:

– Exclusive interview with Peter “the prodigal son” Osaze Odemwingie who touches on  (with Oluwashina Okeleji)

– Detailed team profile of Super Eagles with Stephen Keshi, Vincent Enyeama and John Obi Mikel

– Ghana’s Andre Dede Ayew tells us that he wants to stay in Marseille and rubbishes rumours of €10m links with Napoli and more

– We do a part 2 with Ghana coach Kwesi Appiah who speaks about interference in selection of squad for Brazil World Cup,

– Nathan Quao returns with his Africans Abroad segment: top 10 Africans in Serie A.

And who wins our Samsung Galaxy S3 mini this week?

_

Presented by Gary Al-Smith and produced by Nathan Quao/Gary Al-Smith for Citi FM & Supersport.com. Aired: May 2, 2014.

**Soundtrack details**
Song Title: Someway Bi
Artist Name: M.anifest
Produced by: Yung Fly
Singitdamnit Music/Cumbancha Music Publishing (BMI) 2013

More detail: www.facebook.com/FCAfricaRadio

The post FC Africa 10: Odemwingie & André Ayew special, Nigeria unlocked & top 10 Serie A Africans appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.