The Member of Parliament for Akyem Swedru Constituency, Hon. Kennedy Osei Nyarko, has described Ghana’s plan to connect its railway line from Accra through to Tema Port and on to Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso, as an “economic top priority” for the country.
The proposed railway line, which spans about 1,200km, is estimated to cost about $2.2 billion. This figure does not include compensation costs.
Addressing the issue, Hon. Osei Nyarko said the project will bring major economic relief to Ghana, especially by reducing the pressure on road infrastructure.
According to him, Burkina Faso’s total import volume that goes through Ghana’s ports is about 1.16 million tonnes annually. Currently, all of these loads are transported by road, a situation he said further deteriorates Ghana’s road investments.
“Building the rail lines to connect the two countries will save the country a lot of money and also increase the economic activities of the country,” the MP stated.
He further noted that the total bilateral trade value between Ghana and Burkina Faso as at 2024 stood at $658 million. This figure, he explained, excludes imports that pass through Ghana’s ports.
Hon. Osei Nyarko added that about 99% of all bilateral trade between the two countries currently goes through Ghana’s roads.
The Akyem Swedru MP argued that connecting Ghana to Burkina Faso by rail will not only ease congestion and wear-and-tear on the roads, but will also position Ghana as the preferred trade gateway for landlocked Sahelian countries.
He said the rail corridor will open up new opportunities for logistics, manufacturing, and job creation along the route, while making Ghana more competitive in the sub-region.
The call comes at a time when government is prioritizing infrastructure projects aimed at reducing transportation costs and improving trade within the ECOWAS bloc.
Report by Raskorsa.