Ghana’s newly acquired train from Poland encountered a collision with a lorry during a trial run in the Eastern Region, officials have reported.
According to reports, the train collided with an abandoned lorry on the Tema-Mpakadan railway line, resulting in minor damage to the train’s cabin. Fortunately, the train driver, railway inspectors, and passengers all emerged unharmed from the incident.
Authorities have arrested the driver of the abandoned lorry, and investigations are ongoing.
The Ministry of Railways Development, in a statement issued by Railways Minister John Peter Amewu, clarified that no one was inside the lorry at the time of the accident.
They emphasized that the lorry was not parked at an authorized level crossing location.
Despite the application of emergency braking, the train was unable to stop completely before colliding with the vehicle, the ministry added. Amewu denounced the incident as “unfortunate, irresponsible, and unpatriotic” in a Facebook post.
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Preliminary investigations by the Ghana Police revealed that the suspected driver had left the truck unattended on the railway line, leading to the collision.
The police assured continued investigation to ensure the safe operation of the railway system.
Ghana recently acquired two diesel-powered trains from Poland to enhance its railway transport system.
The first train arrived in the country two weeks ago and was designated to operate on the new 100km Tema-Mpakadan line.
The second train is expected to arrive in August after shipment in May.
The trial run of the initial train, consisting of 12 modern passenger coaches, was part of efforts to improve public transportation and provide better access to Ghana’s eastern corridor.
This railway line is part of a larger project aiming to connect Ghana and Burkina Faso via the Tema port, as reported by local media.
