Preparations are underway to have about 1000 workers of the Ghana Railway Company retrenched to enable the company operate effectively and efficiently.

Deputy Transport Minister Hon Joyce Bawa Mogtari, who disclosed this during a sensitization workshop on the Railway Master Plan of the Ghana Railway Development Authority and Team Engineers, said that this will ensure the rebirth of the railway industry.

Touching more on the workers retrenchment, she added the workers who are due for retirement will be sorted out and those whose services are not needed due to latest technological development in the rail sector will have a nice package.

"Government knows the enormous benefit of the railway sector to the country. The project which is in six phases will see about 4,000 km railway constructed in the country within the next 33 years in a project which will cost about 21 billion US Dollars", she explained.

The Board Chairman of the Ghana Railway Authority Alhaji Ibrahim Adams added that the expansion of the railway sector will involve the private sector. It is also packaged in such a way that cost recovery will not be a problem.

"The construction of Kumasi-Exist railway will soon begin", he added.

Deputy Ashanti Regional Minister,Hon Joseph Yamin also expressed worry about the encroachment of the railway properties and land by private developers, he urged the ministry to work hand in hand with chiefs to have all those lands reclaimed.