The Ghana Railway Development Authority has announced a new railway master plan aimed at supporting the haulage of mineral resources from Ghana’s mining areas, as part of efforts to reduce reliance on road transport and diversify the country’s transport system.
The plan prioritises rail-based freight solutions for bulk mineral movements, addressing long-standing capacity and cost challenges associated with road haulage in mining regions.
The master plan focuses on connecting major mining operations across the country. Proposed rail links would serve key mineral producers, including Ghana Manganese Corporation, Opon Mansi, Awaso and Nyinahin. Combined output from these sites is estimated at approximately 40 million metric tonnes per annum, providing sufficient off-take volumes and revenue potential to support the proposed investment.
The Western Corridor has been identified as the most commercially viable rail route in Ghana, with the potential to connect at least ten mining sites. The corridor runs from Hamile to the Port of Takoradi and plays a central role in the country’s mineral export system. It is expected to form the backbone of the investment proposition presented to private sector participants.
Under the proposed investment framework, the Authority does not intend to offer sovereign guarantees. Instead, investor confidence is expected to be supported through off-take agreements and off-take guarantees from mining operations to secure freight volumes.
The Ghana Railway Development Authority is set to embark on a roadshow to attract private investors to support the implementation of the new master plan, with the investment structure centred on secured freight demand rather than state-backed guarantees.
