The completion of the Kumasi-Accra railway line in 1923 saw Koforidua become an important road and rail junction and as one of the oldest cocoa-producing centers, the railway lines were the main means of transporting cocoa beans, cola, foodstuff, and other goods.
However, following the collapse of the railway system decades ago due to the government’s failure to invest in the sector, encroachers have taken over the Koforidua Railway line with impunity.
Whilst a section of the railway track has been turned into a dumping site, some encroachers have built drinking spots directly on the railway line.
Near one of the drinking spots identified as Little Ben spot constructed on the railway line, are structures being used to sell watermelons.
A brothel has also been constructed at the KFC stretch of the railway line.
This brothel was recently exposed through media investigation that it is being used to house trafficked Nigerian girls.
These trafficked girls are confined in the brothel and sexually exploited by the traffickers.
At the railway Police station, some market women were seen plying their trade on the railway line with temporal structures erected.
Largely, the entire railway line in Koforidua has been encouraged with impunity as mechanic shops, barbering shops, and ghettos for wee smokers, and provision shops among others have been constructed either on the railway lines or the buffer of the railway tracks.
Obed Ansah, Journalist who monitored activities on the railway narrates that “this is bad and a disgrace for city authorities and Ghana Railways authority to look on for this to happen “.
Some of the traders spotted temporal structures on the railway lines however told the journalist that, they are ready to relocate whenever Ghana Railways Authority begins revamping the railway tracks to improve transportation.
Michael Kofi Asinor, a concerned resident who has been monitoring happenings on the railway lines is worried about the impunity and hence appealed to the authorities in charge to act immediately to clear the railway lines and protect them for a future project.
Daniel Mensah Brown, Former Acting Principal Superintendent, Ghana Railways Company Limited retrenched in 2006 said, his blood pressure rises anytime he sees people encroaching the defunct railway facility.
According to him, he warded off many encroachers when he was active in the company but now on retirement and also not healthy enough to patrol the Railways lines to exercise such patriotic duties.
The New Juaben South Municipal Assembly even though has ordered Little Ben not to open the drinking spot constructed on the railway tracks, the assembly has failed to demolish the same.
The Koforidua Railway line is part of the railway system earmarked to be revamped under the integrated bauxite development plan with funding from a $2billion sinohydro Master support project agreement.
Source: Mybrytnewsroom.com/Obed Ansah
