Railway Assessment 

The railways network is managed by the “Ghana Railway Company Limited” GRCL, is a public sector organization, under the tutelage of the Ministry of Railways development. 

Ghana's small but economically vital rail network is confined to the southern half of the country. The company operates a network comprising the Western line (Tokaradi, Dunkwa, Awaso & Kumasi), Central line (Huni valley – Kotoku) and Eastern line (Accra, Tema, - Kumasi) with a total track length of 1,300 kilometres. The network has five major branch lines, three of which are on the Western Line and one each on the Eastern and the Central Lines. GRCL is noted for its hauling of Cocoa, Timber, Bauxite and Manganese. Before its deterioration, it was traditionally an important export corridor. Cocoa, Timber and Flour were handled on the Eastern Line through Tema Port, with the Central and Western lines handling these goods for Takoradi Port. Other Commodities conveyed on the network include Cement, Flour and Petroleum products. Freight services are basically the hub and the pivotal link of GRCL which accounts for most of the profits by the company. Currently GRCL is a major carrier of the country’s manganese at Nsuta hauling thousands of tonnes in a day. 

The railway network in Ghana resembles a large capital "A" with 3 components - a "Western Division" (the left leg of the "A") from Secondi/Takoradi to Kumasi (280 km, 168 mi), an "Eastern Division" (the right leg of the "A") from Accra to Kumasi, and a "Central Division" (the horizontal bar of the "A") from Huni Valley to Kotoku. The 953 km (570 mi) network includes branch lines on the "Western Division" to Prestea and Awaso, a branch line to Kade on the "Central Division", and branch lines to Tema and Shai Hills on the "Eastern Division". Very little of the railway network remains in operation. Accra to Tema, Accra to Kotoku, and Awaso to Dunkwa and south to Takoradi are the only parts that are known to be in operation. Very little is known about the current operating state of the rest of the system. 

The services provided by the GRCL are the following: 

PASSENGERS: 

The GRCL provides effective and safe mode of passenger transportation via rail. The rail passenger transport serves as one of the convenient ways of carrying passengers from all areas in the country through fast and effective means. The company can carry personnel across the country through its social responsibility roles. GRCL provides passenger carriage services by providing relative comfort and safety of rail transport, which have weighted with the government in assigning a vital role to railways in the overall scheme of meeting the transport needs of the country. 

FREIGHT: 

GRCL is noted for its hauling of Cocoa, Timber, Bauxite and Manganese. Before its deterioration, it was traditionally an important export corridor. Cocoa, Timber and Flour were handled on the Eastern Line through Tema Port, with the Central and Western lines handling these goods for Takoradi Port. Other Commodities conveyed on the network include Cement, Flour and Petroleum products. Freight services are basically the hub and the pivotal link of GRCL which accounts for most of the profits by the company. Currently GRCL is a major carrier of the country’s manganese at Nsuta hauling thousands of tonnes in a day. 

PARCEL CARRIAGE: 

GRCL, as far as its core services are concerned, also deal in parcel carriage. The company through its trains carry parcels of all weight and quantities across the length and breadth of the country. Aside carrying parcels of the general public, it also serves as the link of communication between its workers by sending parcels, letters and other smaller goods to its members across areas connected by rail. 

For more information on railway company contact details, please see the following link: 4.1 Government Contact List and 4.10 Railway Companies Contact List.