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Railway Development Minister John Peter Amewu says he has good policies that will cement President Akufo-Addo’s legacy as the builder of Ghana’s modern rail network.
Therefore, he urged the administration and staff of the Ministry of Rail Development to support their policies with strategies and programs to get Ghana’s rail transport back on track; affirming that “let’s work together and innovate”.
A statement issued by the Ministry of Railway Development, copied to the Ghana News Agency, said Amewu made these comments during his inaugural meeting with Ministry management and staff in Accra to formally interact with them while discussing the future of the Ministry and the Railway Sector as a whole.
He noted that politicians always came and went with the directions and directives of the policies, but it was prudent for the Administration to ensure that the staff developed the love and strategies to implement these policies.
He added that it was President Akufo-Addo’s vision to leave a legacy for generations to enjoy as the late President Dr. Kwame Nkrumah did with the construction of the Akosombo Dam and other projects, noting that although there were many programs, the impact of the railroad in the economy was evident.
The Sector Minister commended his predecessor and his deputies for laying a solid foundation for the railway industry, as he recalled that the railway sector had collapsed due to the poor maintenance culture of Ghanaians.
Mr. Amewu indicated that, based on his observation, he could say with confidence that a lot of resources had been invested in the construction of the railway lines, giving a score of 100 percent for the progress of the work.
He added that what was left was the motivator and funding and called for a “hands-on” approach to moving the sector forward.
“I come with good policies and I must be backed by an implementation. It is important to bring everyone, work together and innovate ”, he said.
He urged the Ministry’s Directorate and Staff to continue to demonstrate the spirit of teamwork and dedication in their duties in order for the Ministry to be successful.
On some pertinent issues affecting the Railway Sector, Ministry Management mentioned the acquisition of land and the usurpation of railway land as some of the main challenges that had caused delays in some ongoing railway projects.
It was also mentioned that the challenge of human resource capacity was affecting the Ministry.
For example, the limited number of engineers makes it difficult for the Ministry to closely carry out its role of supervising and monitoring the implementation of the project on site.
Mr. Amewu assured that regular management meetings would be held to address the problems that plague the Ministry and hinder the construction of the railway lines.
Mr. Desmond Boateng, the Acting Chief Director of the Ministry, and all staff assured the Minister of their unwavering support, commitment and cooperation to enable him to fulfill the mandate of the Ministry and the vision of President Akufo-Addo.
