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Amandi Holdings, the company working on the construction of the standard gauge rail line from Kojokrom to Manso on the western line, has hinted that laying of tracks on the new line will commence by the middle of this year. This is because the construction of the viaduct (bridge) over the Kojokrom-Eshiem road is ninety percent near completion.

According to the company, the major earthworks required on one of the sections have almost been completed, and that by the time the viaduct will be completed, all that will be left to make the line fully functional will be the laying of tracks on it.

This was revealed by the General Manager of Amandi Holdings, David Ben Ayun, during a tour of the project site by the Minister for Railway Development, Joe Ghartey, today.

Hon. Joe Ghartey, David Ben Ayun (left of Hon. Ghartey), MD of Amandi, at the viaduct site during the tour.
Briefing the media on the progress of work done so far, Mr. Ben Ayun stated that the entire earthworks from the Kojokrom end of the line – about 2.5km – has been completed, awaiting track laying. He added, however, that that will be done only after the viaduct and other remaining works are completed; which they expect to be soon.

“This is the edge that is coming from the Kojokrom station – about five kilometers – already the civil works on the 2.5 has been completed, it is only left with laying of tracks,” he said.

Mr. Ben Ayun said that the other 2.5km towards the viaduct has delayed due to issues that had to do with land acquisition and compensation, adding that the Railway Development Ministry has been helpful in getting the issues resolved amicably, and that has paved the way for them to complete the work – still on schedule.

“The other 2.5 km delayed, but with the big support of the Ministry, we have been able to complete the land acquisition, and we managed to open the other 2.5km; which you see there was a major earthwork of cutting and filling. And we are in a very advance stage, so before the end of April, we will finish all the sections.

“After that, we will fill the whole area, and then we will have a continuous 5km of a clear path from Kojorkom all the way to the viaduct bridge, and then from there to Eshiem; and from Eshiem to Manso. So the work is now progressing in all sectors. We have a major earth section which is the first 5km, and the viaduct which is expected to be completed before the middle of the year,” he narrated.