Efforts to revive passenger rail services on the Kojokrom–Sekondi Railway Line have been thrown into disarray following repeated acts of sabotage targeting critical railway equipment, the Ghana Railway Development Authority (GRDA) has confirmed.
The Authority disclosed that unknown persons deliberately cut essential earthing and jumper cables on two Diesel Multiple Units (DMUs) undergoing restoration at the Kojokrom Station—acts described as a calculated attempt to frustrate the reactivation of passenger rail services in the Western Region.
Since Thursday, January 29, 2026, GRDA’s technical team has been working around the clock to recommission the two DMUs as part of a broader strategy to restore passenger rail operations along the Sekondi–Takoradi–Kojokrom corridor.
According to GRDA management, repairs on DMU01 were completed earlier in the week, and the train was certified technically fit for testing and trial runs scheduled for Thursday, February 5, 2026.
However, during routine pre-operational inspections on Wednesday, February 4, engineers made a disturbing discovery: the train’s earthing and jumper cables had been deliberately cut into pieces, rendering the unit completely inoperable and forcing the suspension of the planned trial runs.
The incident was immediately reported to the Western Regional Police Commander, with GRDA formally requesting enhanced security at the Kojokrom Station to protect railway assets and ongoing rehabilitation works.
Despite the setback, GRDA management directed engineers to carry out emergency repairs on Thursday evening. By Friday, the damaged systems had been restored, and the train was once again prepared for operational testing.
But in a shocking twist, at about 5:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 7, 2026, technicians discovered that the same cables had been deliberately severed again—marking the second act of sabotage in less than 72 hours.
GRDA has condemned the repeated incidents as persistent and deliberate sabotage aimed at undermining government efforts to restore rail transport in the Western Region. The matter has since been escalated to the Western Regional Divisional Police Commander for urgent investigation and intervention.
In a statement, the Head of Corporate Affairs of GRDA stressed that the Authority remains resolute and will not be cowed by criminal acts designed to derail national infrastructure development.
“Railway assets are strategic national investments. Any act of vandalism or sabotage against them constitutes a serious criminal offence under Ghanaian law,” the statement emphasized.
GRDA reaffirmed its commitment to the full restoration of the Kojokrom–Sekondi passenger service and appealed to residents, community leaders, and stakeholders in the Western Region to help protect railway infrastructure by volunteering credible information that could lead to the arrest and prosecution of the perpetrators.
Management also assured the public that additional security measures are being coordinated with the Ghana Police Service to prevent further interference with the rehabilitation works.
The reactivation of the Kojokrom–Sekondi passenger service is expected to boost mobility within the Sekondi–Takoradi metropolis, ease road congestion, and provide commuters with a safe, affordable, and reliable alternative to road transport.
GRDA has confirmed that repair works will continue under reinforced security arrangements, with a revised timeline for trial operations to be announced once the safety and integrity of the rolling stock are fully secured.
By paqmediagh/Peter Quao Adattor
