Ghana Railways Devt Authority, Afcons seal $419m rail deal

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The Ghana Railway Development Authority (GRDA) has signed a railway development contract with Afcons Infrastructure Limited of India.

The contract is valued at US$419 million and was signed at the Railway Development Department in Accra on Tuesday, September 29, 2020.

This is to build a 51km standard gauge railway line from Eduadin to Obuasi in the Ashanti region.

According to the new contract, Afcons Infrastructure Co., Ltd., which is constructing the Tema-Pakadan railway line, will construct the Obuasi-Eduadin section of the western railway line as part of the Ghanaian railway master plan.

The project is expected to be completed within 36 months from the start date.

Richard Dombo, chief executive officer of GRDA, delivered a speech shortly after signing the contract on behalf of GRDA and the Ghanaian government, saying that based on the excellent work done by Afcons Infrastructure Limited on the Tema-Mpakadan railway line, it is difficult for the government to award them contracts.

He pointed out that within the scope of the contract, 64 trucks, 6 railway stations and footbridges will be built.

He said: “We are building a modern railway line.”

Railway Development Minister Joe Ghartey, who witnessed the signing ceremony, said that the transaction will be sent to Congress for approval.

The vice president of AfCons Infrastructure Co., Ltd. (U v Singh) thanked the Ghanaian government for renewing its trust in the company.

He assured the government and people of Ghana that Afcons will achieve expectations and said that the railway will become a game changer in Ghana’s economic development.