Twelve individuals are set to appear before the Tarkwa Circuit Court on Tuesday, October 7, for allegedly causing extensive damage to the Tarkwa Takoradi railway line near Akyem in the Tarkwa Nsuaem Municipality.
The destruction, reportedly linked to illegal mining activities, has compromised the integrity of the narrow-gauge rail line, which plays a vital role in transporting Ghana’s manganese exports. The line, owned by Ghana Manganese Company Limited, has been severely encroached upon and damaged, with entire sections dismantled and portions of the embankment collapsing into nearby water bodies.
A viral video showing the alarming state of the rail line prompted a high-level inspection on Monday by a team comprising the Western Regional Minister Joseph Nelson, Tarkwa Nsuaem MP Issah Salifu Taylor, and a National Security Liaison Officer. The investigation revealed that illegal miners had excavated the soil beneath a railway bridge, leaving the rails dangerously suspended in mid-air.
Deeply concerned, Minister Nelson questioned the apparent lapses in police surveillance and urged traditional authorities to take stronger control of their communities. He also called on the Ghana Railways Authority (GRA) to intensify monitoring and patrols to safeguard the country’s rail infrastructure.
Some residents, however, point fingers at certain GRA officials, alleging that they were told the new standard-gauge railway line under construction would bypass Akyem a claim believed to have contributed to the neglect and eventual vandalism of the current line.
Amid the destruction, local youth and community members have begun mobilising efforts to reclaim illegal mining sites in the area.
Assistant Superintendent of Tracks and Railways, Sampson Nyame, highlighted the challenges of monitoring the line due to the breakdown of the only inspection rail car. Meanwhile, ASP Den-Ben Eden Selassie, Operational Commander of the Western-Central Police Command, confirmed the arrest of the twelve suspects, who are scheduled to face charges in court on Tuesday.
Minister Nelson emphasized that such damage “didn’t happen overnight,” urging increased community vigilance and stronger institutional accountability to prevent further incidents.
