By Sheila WILLIAMS
The Ghana Chamber of Mines has thrown its weight behind efforts by the Ghana Manganese Company (GMC) to get the Western Railway network in Tarkwa rehabilitated to boost the operations of the company.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Chamber of Mines, Mr. Suleman Koney pleaded with government and other stakeholders in the sector to address their minds to the returns from the ongoing mineral operations and expedite rehabilitation works on the rail line.
When the rail network is fully restored and in operation, the rail network would reduce the cost of transporting the company’s ore overseas for processing and ensure the road network in Tarkwa is devoid of destruction.
“There has been lots of talk about the Western rail line but we can’t understand why it’s taking forever to get it restored, when we can justify the investment based on the volumes coming from GMC and the Ghana Bauxite Company. It’s cheaper for them, it’s safer, it will spare our roads from destruction, all round it makes a lot of sense so we are pleading, let’s expedite action on fixing the rail network. “ Mr. Koney lamented.
The Chief Operating Officer (COO) for GMC Mr. Benjamin Atsu Quarshie explained that the Company’s mode of haulage was 90 per cent by road due to the frequent derailment of the rail lines.
The poor condition of the rail compelled the GMC to convey ore to the Takoradi port by road, with its attendant effect on the road network in the Tarkwa township.
“Realizing that haulage by rail was the best choice to transport its ore to the port, the GMC, in 2017 doled out some $10million to support the rehabilitation of the portion of the Western Railway line, however, till date nothing concrete has been done to justify that expenditure” the COO explained further.
“The amount was given out under an agreement that was to see the GMC paying a freight advance of $1o million to Ghana Railway Company Limited (GRCL), for the rehabilitation project“ Mr. Quarshie lamented.
According to Mr. Quarshie, the agreement was to ensure that when the money goes to GRCL, it will be paid back in terms of the haulage that they do go us”, He added.
This deliberation was held during the 2 day mining tour in the Western Region of Ghana by Members of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Mines and Energy and the Team from Ghana Chamber of Mines and the Media in Tarkwa.
The tour was to get first hand information on challenges mining companies faced in their operational activities.
