President John Dramani Mahama says Ghana will absorb Western Rail line reconstruction under the Big Push Programme, linking it to mining and cocoa transport.
A major rail project is back in focus after President John Dramani Mahama signaled the government is prepared to take on the reconstruction of the Western Rail lines under the Big Push Programme.
Speaking at this year’s May Day Celebration Parade at Jackson Park in Koforidua, the Eastern Regional capital, Mahama said the administration is considering absorbing the Western Rail Line reconstruction as part of its broader development drive.. His comments placed the Western corridor at the center of plans meant to improve movement of goods across the country.
He argued that completing the Western Rail line could help unlock bauxite and manganese concessions in the Western Corridor, while also making it easier to move cocoa beans from farms to ports.
In this context, rail infrastructure is often viewed as more than transport. It can reshape supply chains and affect how quickly producers reach markets, which is why governments treat such projects as economic catalysts.
Beyond the rail announcement, Mahama also pointed to efforts to revive state-owned enterprises that, in his view, were previously collapsing.. He said the Tema Oil Refinery is now back in operation, and added that the government has recapitalized the Agricultural Development Bank and the National Investment Bank.
He further said the Tema Shipyard is performing better and that other state-owned enterprises are operating more efficiently. The remarks came as the May Day platform turned to employment and the role of different sectors in sustaining livelihoods.
Mahama urged organized labour not to remain detached when management or governing boards mismanage enterprises, arguing that workers bear the harshest consequences when companies fail. “When you see things going wrong, don’t sit aloof. Point it out and make sure corrections are done,” he said.
For his part, Joshua Ansah, Secretary-General of the Ghana Trades Union Congress (TUC), emphasized that the private sector is central to addressing the employment crisis.. While welcoming government-led job creation, Ansah said sustainable jobs must be driven by a supported and competitive private sector.
He also called for government intervention to reduce high lending rates, including considering limits on the spread between lending and deposit rates to stimulate investment.
The takeaway is that Mahama’s rail plan sits inside a wider employment and business strategy. If execution holds, improvements in logistics and enterprise performance could translate into more reliable work and better conditions for workers across sectors.