The wrecked train
An examination of the damage caused to the new Tema-Mpakadan Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) 001 train has been valued at $2,138,466.86.
This is contained in a new fact sheet filed in the case of four persons dragged before court for their involvement in the accident involving the train.
The four, Kokou Koudjo, Gas welder; Patrick Kwaku Sosu, Alaza Prosper and Fiadugbe Emmanuel, all labourers, are alleged to have abetted Abel Dzidotor, the convicted driver who abandoned the truck on the railway.
Three out of the four persons dragged before the court are currently struggling to meet the conditions of the bail granted them by the court.
The four were granted a bail of GH¢200,000 with one surety to be justified by the court presided over by Justice Lydia Osei Marfo, but only Alaza Prosper has been able to execute his bail.
Court documents indicate that the four were in the truck with the convicted driver when it got stuck on the railway after which they decided to abandon it.
The documents further state that the four, being fully aware that the railway lines were inaccessible to motor vehicles, still decided to use the railway lines as a shortcut to get to Juapong.
“Even if the truck had successfully crossed the railway, a big gutter and a stream to the west side of the railway lines would have prevented the accused persons from joining the Akuse-Juapong road,” the documents revealed.
The prosecution has amended the charge sheet and the four have now been charged with four counts of aiding the obstruction of a train using a railway line, aiding in endangering the safety of a person on a train using a railway, unlawfully placing stones across a railway line, and causing unlawful damage contrary to Section 20(1) and 172 (1)(b) of The Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act).
They all pleaded not guilty to the charges and the court ordered that they remain on their old bail terms.
The court yesterday rejected a request by the prosecution for the three accused who could not execute the bail to be transferred to the Nsawam Prison for easy transportation to court.
Justice Marfo held that ordinarily, she would have done that but in this case the accused have been granted bail and it is likely that by the next date they would have been able to execute the bail.
She ordered the prosecution to file their disclosures and serve same on the defence. The case was adjourned to June 27, 2024.
The new train, manufactured by the Polish company Pesa and delivered in early April 2024, is the first diesel train in the country.
It was intended to serve the newly constructed Tema-Mpakadan standard-gauge railway line, transporting passengers from Mpakadan to Tema Port, with a switch to a narrow-gauge line for travel to Accra.
During the accident, the truck got damaged beyond repairs while the train had a minor degree of damage, which authorities say could be repaired in Ghana.
A 41-year-old truck driver, Abel Dzidotor, was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment by the Juapong Circuit Court in the Eastern Region, on April 19, 2024.
This was after he pleaded guilty to three out of four charges, including inconsiderate driving and causing unlawful damage.
He was sentenced to 100 penalty units (GH¢1,200) for careless and inconsiderate driving, 20 penalty units (GH¢240) for unauthorised stopping, and six months’ imprisonment with hard labour for causing unlawful damage.
Four other persons were later dragged before a high court in Accra following further investigation and they are accused of abetting the driver in causing the unlawful damage to the train.
BY Gibril Abdul Razak