NPP tears into government's old locomotives deal, demands full disclosure on railway procurement

The Minority Transport Policy Committee of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has raised serious concerns about the government's recent procurement of two refurbished diesel locomotives and 20 freight wagons, demanding that authorities disclose the full details of the acquisition including cost, age, operational history and long-term value to Ghana's rail sector.

In a statement dated 25th June, the Committee said it supports efforts to revitalise rail transport and ease pressure on Ghana's roads, but argued the government has provided far too little information for citizens to judge whether the deal represents value for money. The NPP described the locomotives as "toys fit for the museum," saying they appear to be British Rail Class 56 diesel-electric engines originally built between 1976 and 1983 and previously operated by Colas Rail in the United Kingdom — with only a handful of the original fleet still running anywhere in the world.

The Committee acknowledged that refurbished locomotives can still offer useful service when properly maintained, and that the Class 56 was historically regarded as a powerful freight engine. However, it warned that equipment over four decades old would inevitably carry higher maintenance and operating costs than modern alternatives. It also flagged concerns that the widespread retirement of Class 56 units internationally could make spare parts increasingly scarce and expensive to procure.

Key questions over sustainability and corridor readiness

The NPP called on government to publish details on long-term spare parts supply arrangements, whether critical replacement components have already been sourced, technical support agreements with the refurbishment contractor, and plans to train Ghanaian engineers to service the locomotives locally. The Committee drew a comparison with the procurement of Diesel Multiple Units (DMUs) from Polish manufacturer PESA under the previous NPP administration, noting those trains were newly manufactured and came with a five-year maintenance and technical support package to build local capacity.

Beyond the locomotives, the Committee questioned whether the Tema-Mpakadan railway corridor has the cargo-handling infrastructure — including mobile harbour cranes, reach stackers and bulk loading facilities at the Mpakadan railhead — needed to sustain freight operations. It also urged the government to publish freight demand projections, off-take agreements and revenue forecasts, arguing that rail investments can only be commercially viable with guaranteed cargo volumes.

The Minority further pointed to what it described as a relatively modest allocation of approximately GH¢70 million to the railway sector in the 2026 Budget, suggesting the figure sits awkwardly alongside the government's stated ambitions to expand the national rail network, including the development of the Western Railway Line. The Committee maintained that transparency, sustainability and commercial viability must underpin every railway procurement decision.