[ 2017-02-02 ]

Joe Ghartey, Minister Nominee for Railways Development

We will revamp railway sector to boost economy – Joe Ghartey
Minister Nominee for Railways Development, Joe
Ghartey, has emphasized government’s commitment
to revamp Ghana’s railway sector to transform
the economy when he assumes office.

The Minister Nominee gave the assurance when he
appeared before Parliament’s Appointment
Committee on Thursday to be vetted. Joe Ghartey
said he will kick-start the restructuring of the
railway sector with the reconstruction of the
railways along the Eastern and Western lines,
among others.

“We have the Eastern extension and we have the
Western extension. Along this line lies some
mineral deposits. The minerals are not
economically viable because we do not have access
to those places.. so we are focusing on redoing
the Western line, the Eastern line, of course Tema
Akosombo and the Central Spine. The total project
will be 21 billion dollars…,” said Joe
Ghartey.

Railway sector key to economic transformation

The Minister Nominee further stated that,
Ghana’s dream of economic transformation will
only materialize if government focuses on
expanding the railway sector.

“What will happen in Ghana if we agree to expand
the railway is an economic explosion. What we are
thinking about the transformation of the economy
can only happen, or will happen the fastest if we
invest in the railway.”

Mr. Joe Ghartey said a revamping of the railway
sector will improve the lives of Ghanaians and
productivity, by reducing the stress people go
through using congested roads, as they are forced
to spend several hours in traffic.

Challenges

When asked by the MP for Bawku Central, Mahama
Ayariga on the possible challenges that could
hinder the revamping of the industry, especially
the construction of the Paga railway line, the
nominee admitted that financial challenges could
impede the construction, but was quick to add that
“It depends on how we manage it and if we manage
it and manage it properly in a few years we will
get to Paga by rail.”

About Joe Ghartey

Joe Ghartey was born 15 June 1961, in Accra. He is
a lawyer, academic and politician. He hails from
Shama, in the Western Region.

Ghartey is currently the NPP Member of Parliament
for Essikado/Ketan Constituency in the Western
Region of the Republic of Ghana.

He was first elected to the seat in the December
2004 elections and was re-elected in both the
December 2008 and December 2012 elections.

In all the three elections he was not contested in
the primaries of the NPP to choose the
parliamentary candidate for the Constituency.

During the administration of President John
Agyekum Kufuor, Ghartey was appointed Deputy
Attorney General and Deputy Minister of Justice in
March 2005.

He was soon promoted and appointed the substantive
Attorney-General and Minister of Justice in June
2006, a position he held until January 2009
following the electoral loss of the NPP in the
2008 general elections.

Ghartey was the longest serving Attorney-General
and Minister of Justice under the Kufuor
administration.

In June 2006, a Ministerial reshuffle by President
Kufuor saw Ghartey being elevated from the
position of Deputy Attorney-General and Minister
of Justice to the substantive position of
Attorney-General and Minister of Justice.

After the 2012 general elections, Hon. Ghartey was
nominated by the NPP minority in parliament to the
position of Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament in
the 6th Parliament of the 4th Republic.

Source - citifmonline.com

... go Back