The Director-General of Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA), Ben Owusu-Mensah has disclosed that plans are far advanced for the reconstruction of the Accra-Tema leg of the railway infrastructure, in line with the president’s commitment to transform the transportation system in the country.

This is a project which a French company has expressed deep interest to invest in. Already, series of meetings between the French company, GHPA and Ghana Railways Corporation (GRC) over the project are on-going and it is believed that very soon, the re-construction will commence.

He also hinted that other investors including a Chinese company have also declared their interest to invest in the re-construction of the eastern line of the infrastructure (Accra to Nsawam).

The two lines, when completed, will then pave the way for other lines to be constructed to link the northern sector of the country into the railway network, he noted.

Mr. Owusu-Mensah said this in an interview with the Chronicle newspaper on how the creation of the new Ministry of Ports, Harbours and Railways would impact on the operation of GPHA.

The transport economist maintained that if the rail network is interconnected throughout the country, it will enhance the operations of his outfit, especially, the carting of containers from the port to neighbouring countries such as Cote-d’Ivoire, Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso.

''Ever since the crisis in Cote d’Ivoire broke, all the shipping-related businesses in that country, and that of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger have been diverted to the Tema harbour, but the road transportation which is more tiresome and expensive seems to make the business a little complex. ''However, if we have our rail network working efficiently, then we can be sure that they would continue to do business with us, even after the crises are over,'' he noted.

Touching on the new ministry, he hinted that it would greatly enhance the performance of his company because, from his background as a transport economist, ''my understanding of this new ministry is to give maximum focus to the technical and commercial aspects of transportation.''

He continued that with the creation of the new ministry, President Kufuor has brought the two main components of transportation namely, commercial and technical aspects and the infrastructure, particularly roads and seaport into focus.

Mr. Owusu-Mensah divulged that even with transportation problems facing his company as a result of bad roads and huge expenses, the volumes of container loads from the Tema port alone to neighbouring countries such as Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger and others have increased from 8,611 tonnes in 1991 to 372,693 tonnes in 2002.

He revealed that the full capacity of the inland port of Tema would be realised only when the railway infrastructure has been fully established. He noted that the former Ministry of Roads and Transport had so huge a responsibility, combining both the infrastructural aspect of transportation which covers the provision and maintenance of roads, railways, terminals, seaports, seaways among others, and technical and commercial aspects which includes the provision and maintenance of vehicles, aircraft, ships together, so much so that the minister had always been over-tasked.

Even though the minister worked so hard, yet people did not feel the impact of his dedicated service to the ministry, he said.