The management of the Ghana Railway Company (GRC) Limited is investigating suspected stealing of steel sleepers which were retrieved from a house at Mile 12, near Pokuase along the Dome - Amasaman section of the railway lines.

The sleepers are used to support the rail lines to keep them in alignment and are indispensable, particularly at curves. They can be used for over 150 years .

Thirty-two sleepers have been retrieved and are in the custody of the management of the GRC, a senior official of the GRC disclosed to the Ghanaian Times on Wednesday.

He said the company is investigating allegations that the leader of the Permanent Way Staff (PWS), Joseph Gordon, who is also the District Superintendent of Tracks (DST) is the brain behind the theft.

Gordon was alleged to have sold 15 of the steel sleepers to one Atta, a metal scrap dealer at the railway level crossing on the Graphic Road in Accra.

Some of the PWS who spoke to the Times at the railway station in Accra alleged that Mr Gordon has been intimidating them, using them to remove the metal sleepers which they replaced with wooden ones.

They alleged that anytime they attempted to report the thefts to the authorities, "the big men" in Accra shielded him. And this, they said had encouraged him to continue with his nefarious activities to the detriment of the company.

They said Mr Gordon's behaviour has created division among them, and he cancels their legitimate over-time and thereby denying them what was due them.

The Accra Area Manager, Emmanuel Ativor, told the Times that after the investigations the findings will be sent to the Head Office in Takoradi and the culprits will face a board of enquiry.