The Ghana Railway Development Authority has reactivated the Accra-Koforidua line and secured a $21 million EU grant to fix the signal system on the Tema-Mpakadan railway, as it moves to commercialize freight services on the corridor.

New Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Frederick Appoh, announced the developments at a press conference in Accra, saying the authority is focused on making rail “bankable, reliable, and useful” to Ghanaians.

Dr. Appoh said the Accra-Koforidua service, also called Kodjo Krum Second in Line, was reactivated after 2.5 years on the directive of Transport Minister Hon. Joseph Nikpe Bukari.

“The total cost for doing that is GHS 5 million, which include the repair of the line, which include the repair of the DMUs,” he stated. 

“And at the moment we are supporting the operation of Kodjo Krum Second in Line. The two DMUs parked there are now working.”

The Tema-Mpakadan line was ceremonially commissioned in 2024, but Dr. Appoh said it could not operate fully because the $11.75 million signal system for integration and interoperability was not working.

“We competed for the European Union sustainability and interoperability grant scheme for Africa. I am happy to announce that we have been awarded $21 million by the EU Commission as a grant to fix the signal system with ETCS Level 1,” he announced.

The authority also activated passenger service on the line in October 2025. It now moves about 6,800 passengers per week. However, at GHS 15 per trip, fares do not cover fuel, maintenance, or infrastructure costs.

To make it sustainable, GRDA conducted a demand and traffic study and identified freight as the immediate opportunity — especially for decongestion of Tema Port and businesses wanting to move goods to the harbour.

GRDA has opted for Class 56 diesel locomotives for freight, a decision that has sparked debate online.

Dr. Appoh defended the choice on technical grounds: “Even if I’m giving $100 million today, I will still buy Class 56. Because from the technical specification point of view, from line utilization point of view, from line constraint point of view… you cannot bring in Class 70.”

He explained that the Tema-Mpakadan line is a single track with 3,000 horsepower constraints, sharp curves and gradients. Class 56s, with 2.2MW power output, can pull up to 50 containers or 38 tons and are mechanically suited to Ghana’s heat of up to 65°C and non-electrified lines.

He added that Class 56s are still in commercial use in the UK, with Colas Rail signing a £58 million contract in 2025, and DC Rail using them for freight.

“Buying a locomotive is not about architecture feeling. It’s to pull, torque, the ability to pull constantly, reliably, and is always available,” he said.

GRDA says it has completed factory acceptance testing, ongoing in-country driver training, and proof of fitness testing on the line. Configurations tested include single-headed 10 and 15 wagons, and double-headed 20 wagons — the maximum the Tema-Mpakadan line can safely take.

The CEO also disclosed that GRDA has improved its Internally Generated Funds this year and plans to build its own office instead of staying in the Ministry.

Dr. Appoh sympathized with families who lost livelihoods in recent floods, saying “we at the authority are with them.”

He concluded by saying GRDA’s mandate ends at the lake, and the focus now is on immediate commercialization that serves businesses and decongestes the port.