The government would soon apprehend and prosecute persons stealing components for track fittings on the Tema-Mpakadan railway, according to Minister of Railway Development John-Peter Amewu.
This comes after it was discovered that some 250 bolts and nuts were taken by unknown people on the Tema Harbour-Afienya section of the 97-kilometer railway project before it was finished.
"Let me issue this caution to Ghanaians residing beside railway properties, as well as the wider public, that stealing properties and equipment for projects is disgraceful and unseemly." Mr Amewu stated, "It should end immediately."
He told the Ghana News Agency that the criminals will be found and dealt with soon after anti-theft equipment were installed on the railway and community and stakeholder engagement took place. "Any single citizen who tries to steal materials for the construction of rail lines will be prosecuted. It's regrettable they were not apprehended, but if they try again, the law will undoubtedly catch up with them," the Minister stated.
"We've conducted extensive stakeholder engagement, notably with residents...
"The contractor is putting in anti-theft mechanisms on the rails, making it impossible to remove the bolts and nuts," he continued.
"Let us be our own guardians and protectors of property that belongs to Government," Mr Amewu stated, appealing to all Ghanaians to safeguard State facilities.
We should treat it as though it were our own property and treat it with respect." Despite the project's failure to meet various deadlines, the sector minister was optimistic that, with the progress achieved and assurances from the contractor, all construction on the 97-kilometer Tema-Mpakadan railway would be finished by December 2022.
Due to the COVID-19 epidemic and certain technological obstacles, the project, which began in 2017, missed its July 2020 completion goal. It too missed the March 2022 deadline, and is now anticipated to be completed by the end of this year.
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