Mr. Abraham Koomson, Secretary-General of the Ghana Federation of Labour (GFL), has called on the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government to prioritize the completion of Ghana’s ground railway system before pursuing the development of a sky train project.
Speaking to journalists in Tema over the weekend, Mr. Koomson addressed the ongoing controversy surrounding the much-publicized Accra Sky Train project initiated under the former New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration, which he described as another “white elephant.” He stressed that the current government should channel its energy into reviving the country’s neglected railway infrastructure rather than embarking on costly and ambitious ventures like the sky train.
He urged President John Dramani Mahama’s administration to direct full attention to improving the existing ground transportation system, especially the railway network, which he believes holds more immediate and practical benefits for national development.
While acknowledging the need for accountability in public spending, Mr. Koomson stated that imprisonment may not be the most constructive path. Instead, he advocated for the recovery of misappropriated funds, suggesting that retrieving even 80 to 90 percent of the amount involved would significantly benefit the nation.
The failed Accra Sky Train project, he noted, highlights the importance of transparency and accountability in the execution of government initiatives. He maintained that a focus on completing the ground railway system and retrieving lost funds would help create a more effective and reliable transportation sector.
The current administration has revealed extensive financial mismanagement and corruption tied to the sky train project, originally spearheaded by former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.
As a result of these revelations, the Attorney General’s Office has brought charges against former CEO of the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund (GIIF), Solomon Asamoah, and former board chairman Prof. Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi. They are accused of authorizing an unauthorized $2 million payment to Africa Investor Holdings Limited for preliminary work on the project.
The charges include willfully causing financial loss to the state, conspiracy to commit a crime, and breaching the Public Property Protection Decree.
Meanwhile, Mr. Koomson also urged the NDC to remain true to its ideological roots and fulfill the trust placed in it by Ghanaians in the 2024 general elections.
“The NDC must stay glued to their ideologies. They should use their two-thirds majority in Parliament to implement meaningful reforms. It’s time to stop the internal wrangling and build a strong economy that will collapse the NPP forever,” he declared.
