Bawumia Pledges to Transform Ghana's Railways with Local Materials

Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the NPP’s flagbearer, says he will focus on improving Ghana’s railway system if he becomes president. He wants to build two major rail lines: one in the east to the north and another in the west through Kumasi, Obuasi, and West Takoradi.

“By the grace of God, when I am president, I want to focus on railway. Railways are going to be very transformational for this country. We have to link our resources with the ports and other areas,” Bawumia stated. He outlined his focus on two major rail lines: the eastern line extending to the north and the western line passing through Kumasi, Obuasi, and other areas to West Takoradi.

Bawumia also stressed the importance of using locally manufactured materials for railway construction. “I was having a discussion with the dean of the railway school at UMAT in Takoradi the other day, and I said to him, why do we have to import so much to do rail? Ghana has been seeing railways since the 1920s, and I want to challenge you that all the key materials, the blocks, the steel, and all of that, let’s manufacture all of them in Ghana. Let’s not import them,” he said.

He believes that by manufacturing these materials locally, Ghana can create jobs and master the necessary technology. “If you are going to do that, you are going to create jobs, and as you lay these rail lines across, we will do it. So, let us master the technology. We can do it,” Bawumia asserted.

Bawumia’s vision includes stopping the importation of concrete blocks and using local resources to make steel for the rail lines. “We are even importing concrete blocks from abroad for our rail. Concrete blocks, you know, so we have to stop that. We are going to use local materials, which we have the resources to make the steel for the rail lines and create the jobs for our people,” he emphasized.

He finished by saying that railways are very important for Ghana’s growth and progress. “For this country to transform, we need rail. We need rail to explore our oxide deposits, our iron and steel deposits, and all of that. I'm going to focus in my presidency on making sure these two lines, the eastern and the western, come into being for Ghana to prosper and for us to create jobs,” Bawumia pledged.