Ghana Considers Taking Over Western Rail Line Under Infrastructure Push

Mintesinot Niggusie

The Ghanaian government is considering absorbing the Western Rail Line under its "Big Push" infrastructure programme, President John Dramani Mahama said on Friday, as part of efforts to expand transport links and support industrial and agricultural supply chains.

Speaking at the 2026 May Day celebration in Koforidua in response to the Trades Union Congress, Mahama said the rail project is central to unlocking economic activity along the country's resource-rich western corridor.

"We are considering absorbing the Western Rail Line under the Big Push programme," he said, adding that completing the line would help open up bauxite and manganese concessions as well as improve access to the Western Corridor.

He said the project would also ease logistics for agricultural exports. "It will make it easy to transport our cocoa beans from the plantations to the ports," he said.

Mahama said the government had moved to revive several state-owned enterprises that were previously struggling, describing the efforts as part of a broader push to support employment and economic recovery.

He said the Tema Oil Refinery had resumed operations, while the Agricultural Development Bank and the National Investment Bank had been recapitalised. He also cited improvements at Tema Shipyard, saying several state-owned firms were now operating more efficiently.

The president, however, cautioned that the gains could be reversed if governance and oversight failures were not addressed. He urged organised labour to remain vigilant and engage management where necessary.

"I urge the TUC and organised labour not to sit back and look on aloof when management and governing boards are mismanaging their enterprises," he said. "When you see things going wrong, don't sit aloof. Point it out and make sure corrections are done."

Referring to this year's May Day theme, "Pivoting to Growth, Jobs and Sustainable Livelihoods, Resetting Ghana Beyond Macroeconomic Stability", Mahama said it aligned with his administration's policy direction.