CONSTRUCTION works on the 6.1 kilometer rail line from Tema to Asoprochona, near Sakumono in the Tema metropolis is yet to be completed.
The project scheduled for completion in June for a possible commissioning in July has been behind schedule as contractors, Armandi Holdings were still struggling with about 6 per cent of work which was yet to be concluded.
The project, being executed at a cost of $16.5 million, is expected to reduce traffic, particularly on the Spintex Road and the Tema Motorway. It commenced in January this year with a six month completion period.
A tour at the site by the Daily Graphic revealed major works such as alignment construction of signal polls and lights, drains among others are still ongoing while two new coaches procured at the cost of GH¢21.7 million to facilitate rail transport in the country are still parked at the station in Tema.
Acting Chief Executive of the Ghana Railway Development Authority (GRDA), Mr Emmanuel Opoku, in an interview with the Daily Graphic blamed the delay of work on the recent rains between May and June which he said affected progress.
The situation also affected the supply of the wooden slippers, which he said were procured from saw mills in the Western Region as “suppliers were not able to bring logs from the bush for the processing of the slippers”, he said.
According to him, a recent meeting held between the contractors and the authority recently revealed there were an outstanding total of over 4500 wooden slippers which were required for completion on the lines were yet to be supplied.
This, he said, was a major impediment holding back the project including some civil works at the Tema main station and was optimistic, recent drop in the rainfall patterns would improve work greatly since 300 pieces of the slippers have been delivered.
Mr Opoku debunked suggestions that, inadequate cash flow was impeding the progress of work saying, “although government has made significant financial commitments, the contractors have pre-financed the entire project right from commencement, hence, the reflection of 94 percentage being seen”, he stated.
He said the authority recently conducted test- drive on the lines and was only awaiting completion works on the trucks for shuttle service to begin.
While Mr Opoku could not tell when exactly the project would be completed, he was optimistic the contractors would speed up work and hand over to the authority by the end of September.
General Manager of Armandi Holdings, Mr Nadav Simhoni told this reporter that, although repayment process on the part of government has been very slow, high voltage electrical cables including switch pipes on the rail platform has been a major headache impeding progress as several appeals over the last three months for their removal were yet to prove any results.
“ For instance, ethanol lines belonging to shipping giants, Midland International which have been sited on the lines were still in place although owners in a meeting with both the authority and Armandi agreeing to relocating them within a week”, he lamented.
Mr Simhoni, however, gave an assurance that, the entire project would be completed by the end of September for commissioning in October.
CAPTION: Workers performing alignment works on the rail lines at the Tema main station near the Tema habour.
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