The Ghana Railway Development Authority (GRDA) has raised concerns over increasing safety threats along the Tema-Mpakadan Railway Line following a passenger train collision with six goats on the track.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of GRDA, Frederick Appoh, said the July 30 incident highlights persistent challenges including encroachment, vandalism and deliberate obstruction of railway operations.
According to him, the passenger train, DMU002, was carrying more than 150 passengers when it struck the animals while travelling at about 45 kilometres per hour.
Mr Appoh explained that trains have limited ability to avoid obstacles because of their size, weight and braking distance.
“A train cannot simply swerve or stop instantly,” he said, warning the public against entering restricted railway areas.
He disclosed that railway authorities have recorded several incidents involving people deliberately obstructing train movements, including a case where an individual remained seated on the track despite warnings from an approaching train horn.
He said railway personnel had to intervene physically to remove the person from the track to prevent a possible disaster.
Beyond encroachment, the GRDA CEO revealed that the authority has recorded multiple cases of vandalism and attacks along the railway corridor.
He said more than six incidents involving stones being thrown at trains and 11 cases where stones were intentionally placed on the tracks have been documented.
Mr Appoh warned that such actions could lead to serious accidents, including derailments, especially as heavier freight services are expected to begin operations on the route.
He explained that while the current passenger trains generate about 750 kilowatts of power, freight locomotives expected to enter service will generate approximately 2.25 megawatts and haul much heavier loads.
“Their mass, momentum, and braking distance mean they cannot stop suddenly for a person, animal, or vehicle on the track,” he said.
The GRDA CEO also disclosed that some newly installed fences along the railway corridor have been vandalised, affecting efforts to secure vulnerable sections of the line.
He said the authority has deployed railway security personnel between stations to deter encroachment and protect the operational corridor.
Mr Appoh added that DMU002 will undergo repairs following the collision, while efforts continue to secure funding to fence additional sections of the railway line.
However, he stressed that improving railway safety requires public cooperation, noting that infrastructure and security measures alone cannot eliminate irresponsible behaviour.
“We can engineer a safer railway, but we cannot engineer away indiscipline,” he said, urging the public to keep people, vehicles and livestock away from railway tracks.
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