The government has taken steps to address the prolonged salary delays affecting railway workers, with the release of GH₵11.6 million to cover part of the outstanding arrears.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Railway Development Authority, Dr. Frederick Appoh, revealed that the funds will cater for up to seven months of unpaid salaries owed to staff of the Ghana Railway Company Limited.
The move comes in response to recent protests by the Railway Workers Union, which had raised concerns over salary arrears stretching as far as 14 months. Speaking in an interview on Citi Eyewitness News on Thursday, March 26, Dr. Appoh explained that the backlog predates his tenure, with some payments dating back to 2024.
He disclosed that an internal review uncovered discrepancies in staff records. While official data suggested a workforce of about 1,300 employees, a forensic audit confirmed that the actual number stood at 960 workers.
To address the financial challenges, the Authority, in collaboration with the railway company, initiated internal revenue mobilisation strategies, including the sale of scrap materials. This effort generated approximately GH₵21.5 million. However, part of the funds was allocated to settle outstanding obligations after contractors laid claim to unpaid consignments worth about GH₵10 million.
Dr. Appoh noted that the Ministry of Finance has since approved the release of GH₵11.6 million, which has been forwarded to the Ministry of Transport for disbursement to affected workers.
He added that the Authority will engage key stakeholders, including the Trades Union Congress, the Railway Workers Union, the National Labour Commission, and the Ministry of Transport, to develop a fair and sustainable payment plan.
According to him, ongoing efforts are also focused on identifying new revenue streams to clear the remaining arrears and prevent future salary delays within the sector.