The creation of a ministry for railways development by the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) is superfluous, the former deputy minister of transport, Joyce Bawa-Mogtari has said.
President Nana Akufo-Addo argued the creation of the portfolio will transform the sector. He thus nominated the Member of Parliament for Essikado-Ketan, Joe Ghartey as its Minister-designate.
But Mrs. Bawa-Mogtari thought otherwise, stating during an interview on Accra-based Class FM Thursday that the ministry could have been placed “under the ministry of Transport.”
She went further to explain that the move was not economically viable as there are only two companies serving directly in the sector; the Railways Development Authority and the Railway Company Limited.
“I do hope that there is a good reason [for creating the new ministry] other than just creating jobs for appointees or jobs for people,” she said.
Meanwhile, the Railway Workers Union welcomed the creation of the Ministry.
According to its Secretary, Goodwill Ntamah, the move would create loads of jobs for Ghanaians.
“…The president has done well with the creation of the railway ministry. The minister who has also been designated knows much about the sector, he knows the history and the challenges confronting the sector and the workers. We the workers of the railways know him very well and, so, I am happy that he is the one who has been designated to handle the sector,” he said.
