Four more people have reportedly been remanded for their involvement in the damage to one of the newly procured, modern government trains - the Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU).

The train collided with a parked Hyundai truck during a test on the Tema-Mpakadan railway line along the Asuogyaman District on April 18, 2024.

According to GHOne TV, the four accused persons were remanded after they were arraigned before the Accra High Court on April 22, 2024.

They were charged with abetment of unlawful damage.

The driver of the Hyundai truck, Abel Dzidotor, has already been sentenced to a six-month jail term with hard labour.

The sentence, as reported by citinewsroom.com, said that Dzidotor admitted guilt to three out of the four charges levelled against him, which include inconsiderate driving, unauthorized stopping, and causing unlawful damage.

Abel Dzidotor, the report added, pleaded guilty to the charges of careless and inconsiderate driving, unauthorised stopping, and causing unlawful damage, resulting in a sentence of 100 penalty units, 20 penalty units, and a six-month jail term, respectively.

The fourth charge, for failing to produce a driver’s license, was contested by Dzidotor, who claimed his license was inside the damaged vehicle.

He has been instructed to present the license to the court by May 9, 2024, to avoid potential consequences.

Background:

The Ministry of Railways Development, in a press statement issued on April 18, 2024, confirmed reports that one of the modern trains had been involved in a crash.

It said that the DMU hit a stationary vehicle during the test run; adding that no person was injured.

"At approximately 12:10 pm on Thursday, 18th April 2024, while conducting the test, an incident took place around Km76+100. The DMU, upon approaching the curve at Km76+100, encountered a stationary vehicle stationed right across the rail track. Despite the immediate application of the emergency braking system, the train was unable to come to a complete stop before colliding with the vehicle," the statement said.

The ministry added, "The DMU involved has been moved to the Workshop for further assessment and necessary repairs."

Following the incident, proponents of the government and ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), including the Minister for Railway Development, John-Peter Amewu, have made allegations that the incident was orchestrated to sabotage the deployment of the train.

BAI/NOQ

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