Ghana secures $21m EU grant to complete Tema–Mpakadan railway works

The Ghana Railway Development Authority (GRDA) has disclosed that the government has secured a $21 million grant from the European Union Commission to address outstanding works on the Tema–Mpakadan railway line, following concerns about its readiness for full commercial operation.

The Authority explained that a forensic audit conducted under the current administration revealed that several essential systems on the line were either incomplete or not functional at the time of its commissioning.

These include the signalling system, public address system, level crossing controls, and point machines—key safety and operational components required for smooth train movement.

Officials say the findings raised serious questions about the line’s ability to operate safely and efficiently without further technical upgrades and corrections.

At a press briefing, the Chief Executive Officer of the GRDA, Dr Frederick Appoh, announced that the government had successfully secured funding under the European Union Sustainability and Interoperability Grant Scheme for Africa after a competitive process.

He said the grant will be used specifically to complete and upgrade the signalling infrastructure, including the installation of an ETCS Level 1 system, to ensure full operationalisation of the railway corridor.

“I am happy to announce, through the directive of the Minister for Transport, Joseph Bukari Nikpe, and the technical team of GRDA, that we competed for the European Union Sustainability and Interoperability Grant Scheme for Africa.

“I am happy to announce that we have been awarded 21 million US dollars by the EU Commission as a grant to fix the signalling system with ETCS Level 1,” he said.

The funding is expected to accelerate efforts to bring the Tema–Mpakadan railway line into full service and improve safety, reliability, and efficiency along the corridor, which forms a key part of Ghana’s broader railway modernisation agenda.