• Funding would modernize signaling on Tema–Mpakadan line

• Upgrade aims to allow simultaneous train movements

• Project tied to broader push to shift transport toward rail

Ghana could secure €20 million in European Union funding to upgrade the signaling system on the Tema–Mpakadan railway line, according to the Ghana Railway Development Authority (GRDA). Final approval is expected in October 2026.

Commissioned in 2024 with an investment of about $449 million, the line has yet to operate at full capacity. One of the main constraints is the absence of a functional signaling system, which currently limits operations to one train movement at a time despite rising demand.

The planned upgrade would introduce the ETCS Level 1 system, a standard designed to improve safety and traffic management. According to the GRDA, this would allow multiple trains to run on the line simultaneously under controlled conditions, significantly increasing throughput.

The project fits into Ghana’s broader strategy to position rail as a central part of its transport system, as road networks remain heavily congested. The direction is outlined in the Ghana Railway Master Plan 2026, which aims to connect major cities and expand freight capacity.

Transporting bulk minerals such as manganese, bauxite, and iron is a key priority, alongside improving access to agricultural areas, especially cocoa-producing regions. Authorities see rail as a way to ease pressure on road transport and reduce logistics costs, particularly in mining zones.

However, the plan builds on earlier strategies that have delivered mixed results. Previous rail development programs have often been slowed by funding constraints. A roadmap covering 2020–2035 set a target of 4,000 kilometers of rail lines, but only about 25% has been completed so far, according to official figures.

Henoc Dossa