If you’re planning to live in or travel around Ghana, the phrase Ghana railway is suddenly worth knowing again. After a century of tracks serving mines and farms, decades of decline, long forgotten train stations and long spells when trains were largely symbolic, Ghana has stepped into a new chapter: modern standard-gauge rail, new stations, and recently reactivated passenger services on the Eastern corridor.
For visitors and expats, that means fresh options to move between Accra, Tema and the eastern suburbs, and a fascinating story that stitches history, commerce and daily life together.
A short history: why rail mattered to the Gold Coast
The roots of Ghana’s rail network go back to the colonial era, when railways were built primarily to haul minerals and agricultural exports from the interior to the ports. Tracks linked goldfields (Tarkwa, Obuasi) and cocoa-producing districts to Takoradi, Sekondi and Accra.
Those narrow-gauge lines shaped where towns grew, where markets clustered, and how goods, especially Ghanaian cocoa, moved to the sea. Today the legacy lines still color our towns and landscapes: abandoned platforms, old station buildings and the occasional freight move that reminds you rail was once the artery of the nation.
But independence and changing transport markets brought new pressures. From the 1960s onward underinvestment, competition from improving roads and institutional reorganizations gradually hollowed out passenger service. Accra’s once-busy stations faded; the network shifted into long periods of underuse.
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The law and the plan: rebuilding the network
Recognizing the strategic value of rail, Parliament passed the Railways Act (Act 779) in 2008, creating the Ghana Railway Development Authority (GRDA) to plan, hold and modernize railway assets. That legal foundation has enabled the recent wave of projects: from standard-gauge pilot lines to plans for multi-corridor upgrades that link ports, industry and inland regions.
The game changer: Tema–Mpakadan standard-gauge line
The most visible piece of Ghana’s railway revival is the Tema–Mpakadan standard-gauge corridor. Built as the first phase of a broader Eastern Corridor and the Ghana–Burkina Faso interconnectivity vision, this roughly 97–99 km standard-gauge line connects Tema Harbour and industrial zones to the Eastern region, and, in the long run, is meant to improve freight flows to landlocked neighbours.
The line was formally commissioned in late 2024, a milestone that signalled Ghana’s first operational standard-gauge project in decades. The contractor was Afcons Infrastructure of India, and the project was financed through an export-credit facility (reported at about US$447 million) from India’s Export-Import Bank. Those figures and partnerships underline the scale of the investment and the international interest in Ghana’s infrastructure push.
From inauguration to passenger trains: tests, repairs and the October 2025 restart
Even after the 2024 commissioning, the path to regular passenger service was not instant. Test runs and safety work stretched into 2025; a crucial series of safety and operational test runs concluded in mid-September 2025, clearing the way for commercial operations.
The Ghana Railway Development Authority announced a reactivation of passenger services on 1 October 2025, with initial services running Tema Harbour and Afienya and onward to Adomi/Adorme. Officials framed the relaunch as a practical step toward easing road congestion, boosting commuter safety and unlocking freight potential.
The early operational timetable and introductory fares were designed to attract commuters quickly: short runs like Tema↔Afienya were priced to be affordable (reported fares at launch were about GHS 15 for Tema–Afienya and GHS 25 for Afienya–Adomi, with a full Tema–Adomi journey around GHS 40). Those price points make the train competitive with road options for daily commuters.
What this means for travellers and residents in Accra–Tema
- Faster, more predictable commuting: For people who live in industrial suburbs such as Ashaiman, Afienya and areas around Tema, trains give a timetable-driven option that’s not subject to Accra’s notorious chaotic traffic.
- A different last mile: Trains get you to stations. For that last 1–3 km you’ll still rely on shared taxis, trotros, or the ubiquitous okada motorcycle taxis, depending on where you’re headed. If you prefer to avoid okadas for safety or luggage reasons, plan to catch a taxi at the station (more on safety below).
- Cleaner and safer trips: Modern DMUs (Diesel Multiple Units) used on the line are air-conditioned and more comfortable than older stock — a different experience for foreign visitors and business travellers used to Accra’s matatus and buses.
- Touring potential: For visitors based in Accra, the line opens possibilities for day-trips to the Greater-Accra and Eastern peri-urban landscape that used to be slow, bumpy road journeys.
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Broader impacts: trade, towns and the long view
Rail isn’t only for commuters. Freight capacity on a reliable standard-gauge network is a strategic economic lever: it lowers port dwell times, reduces heavy truck traffic on arteries, and can cut the cost of moving bulk commodities, like cocoa, timber, minerals, to port or processing hubs. Over time, stations and rail corridors tend to become micro-economic hubs: small markets, cafés, and logistics yards spring up around them, creating jobs and new urban rhythms.
Ghana’s broader rail masterplan envisions multiple corridors (Western, Eastern, Central) being upgraded to standard gauge, with ambitious mileage targets. That’s a long horizon: billions of dollars and years of engineering, but the Tema–Mpakadan line is a practical demonstration of what modern rail can do.
Practical tips for travellers who want to try Ghana’s trains
- Check the timetable and fares on GRDA/official channels before you go, launch timetables may change as operations scale. (The GRDA site and reputable local outlets publish timetables and notices.)
- Last-mile planning: If you have luggage or prefer not to ride an okada, pre-book a ride or ask your accommodation for a trusted taxi contact. Okadas are fast and common for short hops, but not always suited to tourists with bags.
- Safety & belongings: Trains are generally safer than crowded buses for petty crime, but normal travel caution applies: keep bags zipped, carry photocopies of documents, and avoid displaying large sums of cash.
- Blend with local life: Bring small change for station vendors, train stops often host lively mini-markets and street food stalls. Try a quick breakfast of kenkey or waakye near the station for a truly local start to your journey.
Challenges ahead
A single functional corridor doesn’t fix systemic problems overnight. Ghana’s rail revival still grapples with: right-of-way encroachment, vandalism of infrastructure, the need for robust maintenance regimes, and financing the larger network build-out.
Moreover, integration with reliable feeder bus/taxi services will define how much traffic shifts from roads to rails in practice. But the relaunchs and the scale of investment (both technical and financial), are a clear signal that rail is once again part of Ghana’s transport conversation.
