The Ministry of Railway Development has secured a GHȻ1 million insurance package for railway services in the country.
This covers passengers, drivers and all other workers rendering services on the train.
On Tuesday, January 29, 2019, government re-introduced the Tema-Accra shuttle service, which was suspended due to renovation.
Speaking at a ceremony in Accra to re-introduce the train services, Railway Development Minister Joe Ghartey said the reintroduction of the train services is a step towards creating a proper functioning railway system across the country.
“This line has been done totally with Ghanaian money and Ghanaian expertise. I will say that as far as the Ghana Railway Company Limited is concerned, today should mark a rebirth of the company.
“We will expect to be invited to ride in the Accra to Nsawam, and Accra to Koforidua train getting to the end of the year,” Mr. Ghartey stated.
Managing Director of the SIC Insurance Company, which is offering the insurance services, Stephen Oduro, noted that his company is ready to offer its service whenever need be.
“Our presence and involvement is to give the needed assurance to the general public, other users of the rail service, the Ministry of Railway Development and its agencies. Going forward, there will be insurance to cover the very many aspects of the operations of the rail services.”
The Accra-Tema train has six coaches with a capacity to contain a total number of 600 passengers.
Fares for the train is yet to be decided, and the trains on the Accra-Tema way are currently going at no cost, and this will last for two weeks, by which time fares will be decided.
The re-introduction of the shuttle service is intended to provide safer and cheaper means of transport to commuters.
Government invested an amount of GHȻ500 million into the railway sector to revamp the system.
Source: 3news.com| Ghana