In the history of Ghana, the use of trains has been an off-and-on phenomenon, with several governments since independence making frantic efforts to permanently include it in the transport system of the country.
The current government of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is also in following in those attempts, although no convincing operationalisation of the system has been made yet.
While at that, a very rare still photo of some time in the early 1900s has emerged online.
The photo, captioned, “A rare photo of Ghanaians waiting for the first train in Kumasi, 1903,” shows how some Ghanaians, some in cloths, had lined up along a rail track.
A careful observation of the photo also shows some chiefs – as can be identified by their unique umbrellas, also present for the special occasion in the Ashanti Region.
Ghana’s railway sector, primarily active in Accra and the Western regions, grapples with myriad challenges, from encroachments to operational inefficiencies.
Despite the daunting obstacles, authorities express determination to rejuvenate and expand the sector.
Recent developments, such as the acquisition of a new train for the Tema-Impakadan route, under the Nana Akufo-Addo government, offer a glimmer of hope for commuters and stakeholders alike.
See the old photo below:
AE