Railways Minister, John Peter Amewu has disclosed that the train, imported from Poland and involved in an accident during a self-acceptance test, is projected to be operational by the second week of June.
According to him, the government expects to receive new parts for repairs soon to expedite the process.
During a test run on the Tema-Mpakadan railway line, the incident unfolded as the train collided with a stationary track, sparking doubts about its preparedness for service.
Subsequently, the driver of the Hyundai truck involved in the collision was arrested and later sentenced to six months in jail.
In an interview with an Accra based radio station, Mr. Amewu disclosed that engineers are diligently working on repairing the damaged train.
He stated that, efforts are currently in progress to guarantee the functionality and safety of the train before its commissioning for service, as disclosed by the Hohoe Member of Parliament.
The government is placing a priority on the repair process to mitigate potential delays in the train’s operationalization and to address concerns regarding its readiness for service on the railway line.
“The train will bridge very soon. It was quite unfortunate that we had that nasty scene where the train had to run into a stationary vehicle. I think you were all there to see it,” Amewu stated.
“So what we have done now is order the parts. The parts will be brought in the next three, or four weeks. The area or the part that got damaged,” he said.
The minister also projected that the commissioning of the line could occur between the first and second weeks of June.
He underscored the vital importance of the arrival of the parts in the restoration process.
“We still estimate that commissioning of the line will be coming in any time from the first week to the second week in June. So the arrival of the parts is what we are waiting for. Immediately we get the parts in, the train will be pulled back too,” Mr Amewu added.
Meanwhile, an Accra High Court has granted GH₵200,000 bail each to four persons arrested for their alleged roles in the train accident.
The court, presided over by Justice Mrs. Lydia Osei Marfo, ordered the accused individuals: Koku Koudjo, a 34-year-old gas welder, Patrick Kwaku Sosu, a 52-year-old labourer, Alaza Prosper, a 28-year-old labourer, and Fiadugbe Emmanuel, a 31-year-old labourer, to provide sureties with justifications.
They are also required to report to the police every Friday.