The rehabilitated training school. INSET: Hon Joe Ghartey and some workers of railway at the site
The Ministry of Railway Development is working tirelessly to transform the defunct Railway Training School located at Essikado in the Western Region into a world class technical Training Institute.
The Ministry of Railway Development is reviving the railway training school in collaboration with the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT) at Tarkwa in the Western Region.
The hitherto active training institute has enough facilities for the running of tertiary courses to train technical personnel for industry, academia and entrepreneurs.
When the current Minister Joe Ghartey took office, he promised to transform the defunct railway school into a world class technical Training Institute as part of government’s efforts to revamp the railway sector.
Last year, the Ministry of Railway Development and University of Mines and Technology (UMaT) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the establishment of a Railway University at the Railway Training school at Essikado.
The proposed Railway University would offer technical and educational training in various disciplines in the railway sector.
Subsequently, rehabilitation work was started at the training to give it a facelift.
After visiting the training school at Essikado to inspect the progress of work recently, Mr Ghartey, who is also the Member of Parliament for the area, wrote on his facebook wall, “I spent January 2, 2019 with the Managing Director and staff of Ghana Railway Company Limited. We inspected the work being done on the training school and the workshops at Essikado”.
“The progress of work was satisfactory. Because of additional works that have been given to the contractor, the project will be completed in March this year according to the contractors and Ghana Railway Company Limited (GRCL).”
The Minister earlier remarked “it’s possible and we can do it just as Ghana Telecom did some years back and now we have Ghana Technology University running all over the country.”
He promised to work assiduously to revamp Ghana’s crippling railway sector to transform the economy.
He mentioned that the restructuring of the railway sector began with the reconstruction of the railways along the Eastern and Western lines, among others.
Mr. Ghartey said that the government was committed to addressing issues related to already existing lines.
“Negotiations are ongoing with some private investors as to whether a Built, Operate and Transfer system could also be adopted.
“What will happen in Ghana if we agree to expand the railway is an economic explosion. The transformation of the economy can only happen or will happen the fastest if we invest in the railway,” he added.
The Minister further stated that Ghana’s dream of economic transformation would only materialize if government focuses on expanding the railway sector.
From Emmanuel Opoku, Takoradi