Takoradi, Jan. 30 GNA- Professor Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi, Minister of Ports and Railways has charged the new board of directors of the Ghana Railway Company (GRC) to take pragmatic measures that would bring the "Dying company back to life".

He told them that they have the onerous duty to seal all loopholes and also check suspected ticket racketeering to improve revenue mobilization.

Prof. Ameyaw-Akumfi was addressing the inaugural meeting of the ten-member board of directors of the GRC in Takoradi on Friday. "One of my major worries is the way the ticket system is being run, I suspect racketeering and it is an area I want you to look into very critically".

The Minister also urged the board to streamline the company's operations with other companies including the bauxite and Manganese mines, which are GRC major clients for their mutual benefit. He said the ministry have had a number of meetings with foreign investors to source for funding for the rehabilitation of the Accra-Kumasi railway line and also the completion of the Accra-Tema line.

Prof. Ameyaw-Akumfi expressed the hope that by the end of the year, the Accra-Tema line would be completed for full operation.

On the problem of passengers found standing on the steps of moving trains, he suggested the use of a taskforce or other lawful means to check this to forestall mishaps in the future, and explained that the problem is not because there were no seats in the train, but rather the tendency for some people to get free ride.

Prof. Ameyaw-Akumfi urged the board to trace and recover all GRC properties, which have either been leased or sold to individuals or organisation without authority and disclosed that already a committee had been formed to prepare a complete list of the estates of the company.

Mr. Joseph Sam Appiah, chairman of the board said members would work hard to revive railway transportation to enhance the movement of goods and services for economic growth.

Other members of the board include Mrs Adwoa Oforiwa Obiri, Mr Samuel Kokovena, Awulae Agyefi Kwame II, Mr Ben Owusu-Mensah, Mr samuel Appah, Mr Emmanuel Opoku, Mr John Ekow Mensah, Alhaji M.D. Jawula and Mr. Charles Gyimah.