Some workers of the Ghana Railway Company Limited have staged a protest at the Ministry of Transport, demanding the immediate payment of outstanding salary arrears.
The aggrieved staff, who carried placards with various inscriptions, said their action was driven by prolonged delays in the release of funds meant to clear their unpaid salaries. According to them, an amount of GH¢20.6 million—realised from the sale of obsolete railway materials—was earmarked to settle up to 10 months of arrears but has yet to be disbursed.
They insist the payment was directed by John Dramani Mahama in October last year, but claim the directive has not been honoured.
Frustrated by the situation, some of the workers described the toll the delays have taken on their livelihoods.
“Our company has reached an age where we need revival, but that doesn’t mean that the ministry should just collapse the sector. Monies have been gained, instructed by the president to be given out, yet lies have been given to us that it has gone to consolidated funds. For how long? What is the money doing there? While workers are still suffering. Not even a month or two to even ease our pressure.”
The General Secretary of the Ghana Railway Workers Union, Benjamin Essuman, also raised concerns about the human cost of the delay, revealing that some workers have died during the period.
“Due to delay of sending the money, we lost our three workers. We are asking them, this is not new. The meetings we have had with them as the leader of the workers, what they told me is 20.6 million. In the account, they came to Takoradi when we had a Management meeting with the Ministry and our authority.”
He added that assurances given by officials have repeatedly failed to materialise.
“They informed us that 20.6 is there. They gave us one week. Maybe that’s the first week of this mandate. They are going to pay. Up to now, they are still pleading.”
In response, the Chief Director at the Ministry of Transport, William Kartey, assured the workers that steps are underway to address their concerns.
“The process has begun and the process will work till the end. We do believe that by the end of next week, we do believe we will receive some kind of response from the Ministry of Finance. And it will be based on that, that we can determine that by this date or next date, you will be paid.”
The ongoing standoff has renewed scrutiny over the financial health of Ghana’s railway sector, which continues to face challenges including encroachment on rail lines, illegal activities, and years of underinvestment.
