Accra: The General Secretary of the Railway Workers Union, Benjamin Essuman, has urged the government to launch a full-scale investigation into allegations concerning the misapplication of GHS40 million, which was intended for the rehabilitation of the Accra-Nsawam railway line.
According to Ghana Web, Frederick Appoh, the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Railway Development Authority (GRDA), has claimed that the funds, allocated to the Ghana Railway Company Limited for essential maintenance, were improperly used to purchase wooden railway sleepers that have reportedly deteriorated. In an interview on Channel One on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, Essuman stated that the union has given the Minister for Transport, Joseph Bukari Nikpe, until June 15 to initiate an independent probe and share the findings publicly.
Essuman emphasized the need for transparency, saying, 'We are calling for an investigation into this GHS40 million that has gone to waste. We have given the minister until June 15 to commission a structured independent investigation, which should provide full disclosure of the facts, after which a report must be made available to the public.'
The union also criticized the Ministry of Transport for not implementing directives aimed at restructuring the Ghana Railway Company Limited and recruiting younger workers into the sector. Essuman highlighted the railway industry's deterioration, despite having available assets, and pointed out the severe financial challenges faced by the workers.
'Railways should not have collapsed considering the assets we have. Workers have not been paid for almost 12 months, yet companies are dragging the Ministry of Transport to court and nothing is being done. We are calling for the immediate deployment of 40 workers for now,' he added.
Essuman further called on the Presidency to intervene in the matter to ensure accountability and necessary reforms within the railway sector.