Dr. Esther Valerie Sawyer, a prominent figure in the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and former Deputy Chief of Staff, has revealed plans by the party’s Presidential Candidate, John Dramani Mahama, to redevelop Accra’s Agbogbloshie Market into a state-of-the-art railway hub, modeled after Union Station in Washington, D.C.
The envisioned Agbogbloshie Railway Center aims to become the focal point of Ghana’s railway network, linking the Volta, Eastern, Central, and Western Regions.
This project is intended to alleviate traffic congestion in the southern parts of the country and enhance the overall efficiency of the transportation system.
Dr. Sawyer explained that Mahama’s plan involves repurposing parts of the Agbogbloshie Market to create a southern railway network, addressing Accra’s persistent traffic challenges and boosting economic productivity.
The facility will serve as a central node for interregional rail connections, streamlining passenger travel and minimizing delays caused by road congestion.
She criticized the current administration under the New Patriotic Party (NPP) for its handling of Agbogbloshie Market, accusing it of neglect after forcibly evicting traders.
Once a vibrant hub for affordable farm produce, including onions, tomatoes, yams, and maize, the market now stands in disrepair, leaving many traders displaced and struggling.
Mahama’s proposed southern railway network will also integrate with an eastern corridor railway, connecting to an inland port in the Yagaba District of the North-East Region.
This inland port is expected to create thousands of jobs and lower transportation costs for farm produce from northern Ghana to southern markets.
Dr. Sawyer emphasized that the railway initiative will cut transportation expenses, boost agricultural trade, and reduce reliance on manual laborers, such as head porters (kayayei), for moving goods.
By transforming Agbogbloshie into a modern transportation hub, Mahama aims to build infrastructure that supports economic development and enhances livelihoods nationwide.
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