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Political interference discourages rail sector investment–GRWU
Political interference discourages vital investors for the railways sector, the General Secretary of Ghana Railway Workers Union (GRWU), Mr Godwill Ntarmah, has observed.
He believed the trend, over the years had been one major factor which had affected the development and fortunes of railway subsector of the economy of Ghana.
Mr Ntarmah expressed these concerns at the second quadrennial delegate conference of the GRWU which ended at Fijai, in Takoradi, on Friday on the theme ‘Revamping the railway sector, the role of stakeholders’.
“It is important to state that in the past, unnecessary political interference and influence did not allow potential investors to succeed in the quest to revamp the railway sector.” he stressed.
The GRWU Secretary General declared: “The ongoing construction of the Akosombo to Mpakadan railway line has really raised the appetite of Ghanaians for more railway construction and we cannot afford to fail them.”
Mr Ntarmah told the conference that another major challenge facing the railway industry was the view held by most railway workers and observers that owners of the bulk road vehicles and the very influential in the society were“behind the non-revamping of the Western Railway line to Awaso.”
He said, such observers wondered why there was no contract for the revamping to reach Awaso, especially when the current government had shown the commitment to revamp the railway sector.
“The benefits that the nation will get by hauling bauxite and other minerals by rail far outweigh the benefits any individual will get. It is our belief that in the not too distant future our cry to get to Awaso will receive the needed response it deserves for us to have our jobs secured.” Ntarmah mentioned.
He reported that from December 2019 to April 2020, Ghana Manganese Company’s decision to stop the haulage manganese to Takoradi Port, had affected the operations of GRCL which now rely on Central Government for total payment of salaries of railway workers.
The General Secretary indicated that the situation could have been avoided if the GRCL had diversified its operation to include the haulage of bauxite and cocoa.
Mr Ntarmah, however, noted some positive interventions including the rehabilitation of the existing narrow-gauge line from Kojokrom to Tarkwa that has ensured resumption of passenger services, rehabilitation of the existing narrow gauge from Accra to Nsawam and the award of contract to M/S AMANDI for the construction of standard gauge railway line from Kojokrom to Huni Valley.
Despite the positive initiatives, the GRCL, he added, was currently faced with challenges of old locomotive engines, inadequate rolling stock and lack of spare parts for the old locomotives and rolling stock available.
He called for an effective collaboration and cooperation of all stakeholders in the railway sector based on transparency and trust, to revamp the railway sector.
Source: Ghanaian Times
News
Minister of Health appeals to Tamale Teaching Hospital striking doctors
The Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh has appealed to the striking doctors at the Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH) to calll off the suspension and come to the negotiation table.
However, he refused to apologise as demanded by the striking doctors.
The doctors after a meeting yesterday have withdrawn emergency services following the dismissal of the Chief Executive Officer of the hospital.
This follows an unannounced visit to the hospital by the Minister on Tuesday.
The Minister made the appeal when addressing the media in Accra on Today, April 24 2025.
According to him, dialogue is the only way out to resolve the issue, adding that he was ready collaborate with them.
“I am prepared for us to come around the table and discuss whatever we need to discuss,” Mr Akandoh said.
“My humble appeal to my wonderful medical doctors and health professionals at Tamale Teaching Hospital is that I am the first person to take care of your interests. Therefore, let’s call off the strike and let’s all regroup and strategise going forward,” he concluded.
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Health Minister donates medical equipment to Tamale Teaching Hospital, pledges commitment to reforms
The Minister for Health Kwabena Miintah Akandoh has reiterated government’s commitment to address long-standing challenges in the health sector, describing the health system as one that requires urgent reform and collective responsibility.
He made these remarks during a donation of some essential medical equipment and supplies to the Tamale Teaching Hospital on behalf of the Ministry of Health.
The donation included a wide range of equipment such as ECG machines, ICU ventilators, cardiac monitors, anesthesia machines, infant incubators, and essential
Consumables amounting to about 35 items.
Among the items highlighted were
Emergency Health Equipment (EHE) sets, nebulizer sets, and medical-grade towels.
The Health Minister acknowledged the difficult working conditions health professionals continue to endure and emphasized that government efforts alone would not be enough to resolve systemic issues.
He called for unity across the health sector and urged all stakeholders, including medical doctors, nurses, and pharmacists, to work together to ensure that the country’s limited resources are used efficiently.
He noted that the wellbeing of the ordinary Ghanaian should be central to healthcare delivery, cautioning against practices that marginalize the underprivileged due to resource scarcity. According to him, every Ghanaian life is valuable, and the system must reflect that belief in both policy and practice.
Mr.Akandoh stressed that his leadership approach is rooted in humility, collaboration, and respect for all health workers. While acknowledging that change may come with challenges, he maintained that cooperation is key to achieving lasting improvements in the sector.
The Minister pleaded with health professionals in the Tamale Teaching Hospital to call off the strike and regroup to strategize on more effective ways to address their concerns through dialogue and collaboration with relevant authorities.
The donation to the Tamale Teaching Hospital forms part of a broader national initiative to modernize medical infrastructure and enhance service delivery in Ghana’s healthcare.
