Officials report that during a trial run in Ghana’s Eastern Region, a newly acquired train from Poland collided with a lorry.
The incident as captured in a video clip took place on the Tema-Mpakadan railway line, where the train encountered a vehicle left unattended.
Fortunately, only minor damage was sustained to the train’s cabin, and all passengers, as well as the train driver and railway inspectors, emerged without injuries, according to BBC.
The police have arrested the driver of the abandoned lorry.
In a statement released by the Ministry of Railways Development on Friday, Railways Minister John Peter Amewu clarified that there was no occupant in the lorry at the time of the collision.
Moreover, the ministry noted that the lorry was not parked at an authorized level crossing.
“Despite the immediate application of the emergency braking system, the train was unable to come to a complete stop before colliding with the vehicle,” it added.
Amewu took to Facebook to lament the incident as “regrettable, reckless, and disloyal.” Meanwhile, the Ghana Police issued a separate statement indicating that initial inquiries suggested the suspected driver had abandoned the truck on the railway line, resulting in a collision with the train.
The authorities reiterated their commitment to thoroughly investigate the matter to ensure the safety of the railway system.
In efforts to bolster the country’s railway transport, Ghana recently acquired two diesel-powered trains from Poland.
The first of these trains, intended for the newly established 100km (60-mile) Tema-Mpakadan line, arrived in the nation two weeks ago.
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According to Yaw Osuwu, the head of the railway agency, the second train is scheduled for shipping in May and is expected to arrive by August.
Meanwhile, the inaugural train, equipped with 12 modern passenger coaches, was undergoing trial runs along the new route, aimed at enhancing public transportation and improving access to Ghana’s eastern corridor.
This railway project, spanning approximately 1,000 km, is part of a broader initiative to establish connectivity between Ghana and Burkina Faso via the Tema port, as reported by local media outlets.