An 11-member Board of Directors of the Ghana Railways Development Authority (GRDA) has been inaugurated in Accra yesterday.
The board, chaired by Dr Martin Amogre Ayanore, would among others, promote the development of railways services, development and management of sub-urban railways,administer and improve railways assets.
Nine of them took the oath of secrecy and of office, two others who were absent would take their oath later.
The Deputy Minister of Railways Development, Mr Kweku Asante Boateng who represented the Minister, Mr John Peter Amewu said the Railway Act 2008(Act 779) was passed by Parliament on November 14, 2008 and assented by the President on January 6, 2009.
He said the passage of the Act led to the establishment of the Ghana Railways Development Authority as a regulator and asset manager to promote the development of railways and railways services in the country.
“The objective of the Railways Act, as indicated in the Memorandum to the Act, is to create a licensing regulatory framework as well as a safe rail transport system, that would create opportunities for the private sector and increase private sector participation in the provision of rail transport services,” he added
Mr Boateng stated that the memorandum further provided that the establishment of GRDA as the regulator of the industry, would provide a conducive environment to attract local and external investors to the sector.
The Deputy Minister stated that the board would set and enforce safety and security standards for the construction and operation of railways in accordance with the Act.
He said the board would initiate, conduct, promote and encourage studies necessary for the growth and development of railways, including the development of master plans in accordance with the Act and set standards.
Mr Boateng said they would regulate and monitor the activities of licences, concessionaries and operators of railways and ensure collaboration with other public, private or international agencies for the performance of its functions.
He said the board would oversee the administration of the Railways Development Fund and further advice government on railway matters.
Mr Ayanore on behalf of the board thanked President Nana Addo DankwaAkufo-Addo for the confidence reposed in them and assured that they would work hard to revamp the railways sector.
The chairman assured that the board would ensure the growth of the Railways Development Fund and called for the support of the public.
The members were Mr Kweku Asante Boateng, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Railways Development, Mr Ernest Yaw Owusu, acting Chief Executive Officer of Ghana Railways Development Authority, Mr Ernest Kwame Obeng of the Ministry of Roads and Highways, Mr Micheal Achagwe Luguje, Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority.
The rest are Mr Jonathan Kwasi Azasoo, National Development Planning Commission, Mr Edwin Allotey Acquaye, of the Ghana Chambers of Mines, Dr Emmanuel Adem Opoku, Ghana Cocoa Board, Mr Fridoline Kwesi Bansah, and Ms Sophia Abena Tijani, both President nominees.
One other member who is a representative from the Ministry of Finance is yet to be named.
BY ANITA NYARKO-YIRENKYI
