Business News of Wednesday, 25 January 2006

Source: GNA

GRC to use concrete sleepers for rails

Essikadu (W/R), Jan. 25, GNA - Mr Joseph Samuel Appiah, Board Chairman of the Ghana Railway Company (GRC), on Wednesday said the Company will in future use concrete sleepers for rail lines. He was speaking when Professor Christopher Ameyaw Akumfi, Minister of Ports, Harbours and Railways, visited the GRC sleepers treatment plant at Location Quarry at Essikadu near Sekondi.

Mr Appiah said: "Concrete sleepers are economical, last longer and are more stable".

He said wood was becoming expensive and easily got rotten. Mr Appiah said discussions were underway to establish a factory in Accra to produce concrete sleepers locally. He said the Company's main pre-occupation was to improve its existing services and get all tracks in good working condition. Mr Appiah said the Company would continue operating on its own until some kind of private participation became necessary. Addressing workers at the plant, Professor Ameyaw Akumfi said the Company would consider providing permanent employment for some of the large number of casual workers now that it had been removed from the list of companies listed for divestiture. 25 Jan. 06