The government of Ghana plans to finance the construction of the Western Corridor Railway Line using petroleum revenues and mineral royalties, Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson has announced.
The proposed railway line will run from Takoradi through Nsuta and Awaso to Nyinahin, forming part of the government’s plans to expand the country’s railway infrastructure and improve transportation along the Western Corridor.
Presenting the 2027 Budget Statement, Dr Forson said the government had decided to use proceeds from the country’s natural resources to finance the project rather than depend on external funding.
He said the decision was part of a broader shift in the allocation of public resources towards major infrastructure projects.
According to the Finance Minister, President John Dramani Mahama has tasked the Ghana Armed Forces with securing the right of way for the railway project to facilitate preparations for construction.
However, detailed feasibility studies, engineering designs, project costing, as well as environmental and social impact studies are still ongoing.
The completion of these assessments is expected to provide the technical and financial details needed to guide the implementation of the project.
Dr Forson also disclosed that revenue streams previously used for expenditure on astroturfs, air tickets, per diems, newspapers, workshops and conferences will now be channelled into funding major infrastructure projects.
He specifically mentioned the Accra-Kumasi Expressway and the Western Corridor Railway Line as projects expected to benefit from the reallocation of these resources.
“The revenue streams once spent on astroturfs, air tickets, per diems, newspapers, workshops and conferences will now fund the Accra-Kumasi Expressway and the Western Corridor Railway Line,” he said.
