Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Railway Development Authority, Dr Frederick Appoh, has raised grave concerns about the impact of illegal mining (galamsey) on Ghana’s railway infrastructure, describing it as a national security threat that requires an urgent, coordinated response.
His warning follows reports that galamsey activities have ripped through the Nsuta rail line, destroying nearly three kilometres of the Takoradi–Akyem stretch.
The damage, he said, underscores the persistent and evolving nature of the menace, which continues to undermine the country’s transport infrastructure and economic development.
“The issue here is that these people can operate at any time. If you go there in the daytime, they wait for you to leave and return at night. When they see us, they run away, but the moment we move our vehicles, they come back,” Dr. Appoh explained in an interview on JoyNews’ The Pulse on Monday, October 6.
He stressed that the situation calls for a joint and sustainable national effort, involving not only the Ministry of Railways and Transport but also the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources and the Ministry of the Interior.
“This is not just a transport issue, it’s a national security issue. We need collaboration across key sectors to protect our rail assets,” he emphasized.
Dr. Appoh welcomed the formation of the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) announced by President John Dramani Mahama, noting that its mandate could effectively cover the protection of railway lines from encroachment and destruction by illegal miners.
He further called for community participation in safeguarding rail infrastructure, citing successes from previous initiatives along the Tema–Mpakadan line, where sensitisation and local vigilance helped curb theft and vandalism.
“We need community support. When people see the railway as their own asset, they help protect it,” he noted.
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