Konongo Railway Station to have a new look

Accra (Greater Accra), 10^th November 99

The Konongo Railway Station is to be rehabilitated in the next 24 months as part of the government's rehabilitation programme of major railway stations along the Eastern Line, Mr. Steve Akorli, Deputy Minister of Roads and Transport, said on Tuesday.

Mr. Akorli told a questioner in Parliament, that currently, the Ghana Railway Corporation operates only the night sleeper trains between Accra and Kumasi and between Accra and Nsawam.

He said steps are being taken to stimulate operations of the Eastern Line through bulk haulage of petroleum products from Tema to Kumasi, rehabilitation of coaches and haulage by train of import and export commodities to and from the inland port at Fumesua in Ashanti.

Mr Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu, NPP-Asante Akyem North, had asked the Deputy Minister about when the Konongo Railway Station would be rehabilitated and what steps were being taken to stimulate operations on the Eastern Line.

Mr Akorli told the House that the government has recently secured a five million Deutsche Mark-loan to rehabilitate most of the passenger coaches bought in 1986 from Germany and which have been withdrawn from service due to their bad condition.

He said on the completion of the rehabilitation, "the Ghana Railway Corporation will run the full complement of passenger trains on the Eastern Line" and that the passenger train that serves market women between Accra and Koforidua, "will be re-introduced".

GRi../