12 To Face Court Over Destruction Of Tarkwa-Takoradi Rail Line At Akyem

Twelve individuals are expected to appear before the Tarkwa Circuit Court on Tuesday, October 7, for causing extensive damage to a section of the Tarkwa-Takoradi railway line at Akyem in the Tarkwa Nsuaem Municipality.

The railway line, which plays a key role in transporting Ghana’s manganese exports, has been significantly affected by illegal mining activities.

The narrow-gauge line, owned by the Ghana Manganese Company Limited, is used to haul products from Tarkwa to the Takoradi Port.

.

In response to a viral video documenting the damage near Akyem, a high-level team led by Western Regional Minister Joseph Nelson, MP for Tarkwa Nsuaem Issah Salifu Taylor, and a National Security Liaison Officer conducted an on-site inspection on Monday.

Illegal miners had dug out the entire foundation beneath a railway bridge, stripping away all the supporting soil and leaving the metal rails precariously suspended.

Further ahead, entire sections of the rail line had been removed, and the embankment had collapsed into the water.

The Western Regional Minister, visibly disturbed by the scene, called on traditional leaders to take charge of their communities and urged the Ghana Railways Authority to increase patrols to prevent further destruction.

However, some residents have blamed the situation on individuals within the Ghana Railways Authority.

They allege that two officers informed them the new standard gauge railway line under construction would not pass through Akyem, leading to assumptions that the current line was no longer needed.

To address the situation, local youth and community members have begun taking steps to reclaim and restore the illegal mining sites in Akyem.

Meanwhile, Sampson Nyame, Assistant Superintendent of Tracks at the Ghana Railways in Tarkwa, revealed that their ability to monitor the rail lines has been hampered because their only rail car for patrols has broken down.

In a briefing to the Western Regional Minister, ASP Den-Ben Eden Selassie, Operational Commander of the Western Central Police Command, confirmed the arrest of twelve individuals in connection with the destruction.

They are expected to appear before the Tarkwa Circuit Court on Tuesday, October 7.

The Minister emphasized the importance of protecting critical infrastructure and called for collective efforts to prevent further damage to the nation’s rail network.

Story by Nana Fynn@W/R.