Transport in Ghana: Difference between revisions

[[File:Transporte público de Ghana – Public Transport in Ghana (collage).JPG|thumb|300px|A collage of the Transport in Ghana and [[public transport]] systems in Ghana: [[Airbus A320]] of a Ghana [[regionalRegional airline|Regional Airline]] in Ghana, [[taxicabTaxicab]] system in Ghana,{{clear}} [[busBus rapid transit|Bus Rapid Transit]] of [[Metro mass Transit L.T.D]] in Ghana, [[railwayRailway stationStation]] and [[Kumasi]] [[Railway Station]] in Ghana, and [[ferryboatFerryboat]] transportation in Ghana.]]

'''Transport in Ghana''' is accomplished by road, rail, air and water. Transportation[[Ghana]]'s transportation and communications networks are centered in the southern regions, includingespecially the areas in which gold, cocoa, and timber are produced. The northern and central areas are connected through a major road system.<ref name="transport">Clark, Nancy L. "Transportation and Telecommunications". ''[http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/ghtoc.html A Country Study: Ghana]'' (La Verle Berry, editor). [[Library of Congress]] [[Federal Research Division]] (November 1994). ''This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the [[public domain]]. [http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/about.html]''</ref>

[[File:Railways in Ghana.svg|thumb|RailwayGhana's railway network.]]

In March 2007, a Private Public Partnership was proposed to rehabilitate the Eastern Railway from Accra to [[Ejisu]] and [[Kumasi]], with an extension from Ejisu via [[Mampong]], [[Nkoranza]], [[Tamale, Ghana|Tamale]], [[Bolgatanga]] and [[Paga]], with a branch from [[Tamale, Ghana|Tamale]] to [[Yendi]] and [[Sheini]]. The extension starts at [[Kumasi]] and will cost $1.6b.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ww5.ghananewstoday.com/|title=ghananewstoday.com|website=ww5.ghananewstoday.com}}</ref>

In February 2008, the ''Ghana General News'' reported that the Ministry of Harbours and Railways and the Ghana Railway Corporation (GRC) expected to complete a new commuter line linking [[Accra]] and [[Tema]] by June 2008. The formation was complete from [[Sakumono]] to the SSNIT flats near Tema. Diesel multiple-unit trainsets will be imported for use on the line.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.railwaysafrica.com/|title=Railways Africa|first=Railways|last=Africa|website=Railways Africa}}</ref> Construction of sleeper plant for the far north line was also initiated in 2008.

===TransportRail transport===

The Ghana railway network occupies a total [[Rail transport|rail]] route length and [[Track (rail transport)|rail track]] length of 947&nbsp;km and 1300&nbsp;km, comprising national [[rail line]]s that do not go outside of Ghana and the Ghana [[national border]].<ref name="Essential renewals must pave the way for ambitious expansion strategy">{{cite magazine |magazine= Railway Gazette |url = http://www.railwaygazette.com/nc/news/single-view/view/essential-renewals-must-pave-the-way-for-ambitious-expansion-strategy.html |title = Essential renewals must pave the way for ambitious expansion strategy |access-date = 5 June 2013}}</ref> ItGhana railway network is limited to south Ghana and the southern part of Ghana within the Greater Accra region, Central region, Western region, Eastern region and Ashanti region of south Ghana.<ref name="Essential renewals must pave the way for ambitious expansion strategy"/>

* SomeThe major [[Rail transport|rail routes]] in Ghana are the [[Railway stations in Ghana#East|Ghana Eastern Rail Line]] that connects Kumasi to Koforidua, and the [[Railway stations in Ghana#West|Ghana Western Rail Line]] that connects Kumasi to Sekondi-Takoradi, Sunyani and Cape Coast.<ref name="Essential renewals must pave the way for ambitious expansion strategy" /> In 2010, Ghana Railway Corporation began a [[Ghana cedi|GH₵]]12.9 billion ([[United States dollar|US$]]6&nbsp;billion) rail project at the construction of the Ghana rail infrastructure to Ghana [[High-speed rail|High-Speed Rail]] (''abbreviated'' GHSR or HSR) and to upgrade all of Ghana's railway line network has been planned and to be completed inat the end of 2014 with [[construction]] managed by the [[China Railway High-speed|China Railway High-Speed]] (CHR) and the Chinese National Machinery Import and Export Corporation (CMC).<ref>{{cite web|title=Ghana, China signs railway contract|url=http://www.ghananewslink.com/index.php?id=10515|website=ghananewslink.com|access-date=5 June 2013|date=30 November 2010}}</ref>

* [[Hamile]] - far northwest corner (Contracts were made for railway extensions in July 2007.)

Korean engineers studying the building of new lines in February 2007 were also to consider [[Track gauge conversion|conversion]] to {{Track gauge|sg|allk=on}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://yinggelken.blogspot.com/2007/02/korean-rail-engineers-head-to-ghana.html|title=Blogger}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.myjoyonline.com/news/200708/7194.asp|archive-url=https://archive.today/20070701221114/http://www.myjoyonline.com/news/200708/7194.asp|url-status=dead|title=Ghana News :: Trains go North ::: Breaking News &#124; News in Ghana &#124; news<!-- Bot generated title -->|archive-date=July 1, 2007}}</ref><ref>[http://www.thestatesmanonline.com/pages/news_detail.php?newsid=4453&section=9 The Statesman : Special Reports : The transformation of Ghana's rail<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref>[http://www.rmtbristol.org.uk/2007/08/uae_group_signs_ghana_rail_dea.html National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers (RMT): UAE group signs Ghana rail deal<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120911062631/http://www.rmtbristol.org.uk/2007/08/uae_group_signs_ghana_rail_dea.html |date=2012-09-11 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.fig.net/pub/fig2006/papers/ts47/ts47_04_fiatornu_0796.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2008-05-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110612140558/http://www.fig.net/pub/fig2006/papers/ts47/ts47_04_fiatornu_0796.pdf |archive-date=2011-06-12 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.otal.com/ghana/|title=Overseas Travel and Leisure - OTAL.com}}</ref>

Road transport is by far the dominant carrier of freight and passengers in Ghana's land transport system. It carries over 95% of all passenger and freight traffic and reaches most communities, and is classified under three categories of trunk roads, urban roads, and feeder roads.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://mrt.gov.gh/pages.asp?page_Id=1&expandable=0 |title=Welcome to the Ministry of Roads and Highways - Ghana |access-date=2010-06-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091113014431/http://www.mrt.gov.gh/pages.asp?page_Id=1&expandable=0 |archive-date=2009-11-13 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The Ghana Highway Authority, established in 1974 is tasked with developing and maintaining the country's trunk road network totaling 13,367&nbsp;km, which makes up 33% of Ghana's total road network of 40,186&nbsp;km.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.highways.gov.gh/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=21&Itemid=28 |title=About GHA |access-date=2010-06-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110418040119/http://www.highways.gov.gh/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=21&Itemid=28 |archive-date=2011-04-18 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

| caption1 = [[Dual carriageway|Dual Carriageway]] with a [[stopStop sign|Stop Sign]] in [[Akosombo]], Eastern region, Ghana.

| caption2 = [[Traffic circle|Traffic Circle]] in Greater Accra, Ghana.

The Ghana road network is 64,323&nbsp;km and [[road transportation]] is athe most dominant choice of transportation in Ghana.<ref name="Commerce Ghana Adequate Transportation">{{cite web |website=commerceghana.com|url = http://www.commerceghana.com/why-invest-in-ghana/transportation-in-ghana|title= Commerce Ghana Adequate Transportation|access-date = 5 June 2013}}</ref> Road transport infrastructure in Ghana can be used throughout to facilitate the exchange of commodities and enable regular school attendance and "fast" access to health facilities in Ghana.<ref name="Commerce Ghana Adequate Transportation"/> There has been an increased investment and expansion in the road transportation of Ghana, [[Ghana cedi|GH₵]]1 billion ([[United States dollar|US$]]500&nbsp;million) in 2012.<ref>{{cite web |work= chinadaily.com.cn |publisher= [[China Daily]] |url = http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/bizchina/2012-12/05/content_15986854.htm|title= $500m of Chinese loan used on roads in Ghana, says minister |date=5 December 2012 |access-date = 5 June 2013}}</ref>

There is a Ghanaian [[busBus rapid transit|Bus Rapid Transit]], known as [[Metro mass Transit L.T.D]], and a [[Taxicab]] system connecting the Ghanaian big cities among themselves, and a [[Minibus]]es system, known as [[Tro tro|Tro Tros]], connecting big cities with the country's [[rural area]]s and small towns.<ref name="Commerce Ghana Adequate Transportation"/> The [[Ghana Police Service]]'s [[Motor Transport and Traffic Unit]] (MTTU) and the [[Ghana Highways Authority]] is responsible for the maintenance of the [[roadRoad traffic control|Road Traffic Control]] of Ghana and the [[Ghana Road Network]] (Ghana national [[highway]]s and [[motorway]]s).<ref>{{cite web |work= ghanapolice.info |url = http://www.ghanapolice.info/mttu/mttu.htm |title=About MTTU|access-date = 5 June 2013}}</ref>

The [[Trans–West African Coastal Highway]], part of the [[Trans-African Highway network]] crosses Ghana along the '''N1''', connecting it to [[Abidjan]], ([[Ivory Coast]]), [[Lomé]], ([[Togo]]) and to [[Benin]] and [[Nigeria]]. Eventually the highway will connect to another seven [[Economic Community of West African States]] (ECOWAS) nations to the west. The '''N2''', which connects [[Tema]] in the Greater Accra Region to Kulungugu in the Upper East Region; the '''N10''', which connects [[Yamoransa]] in the Central Region to Paga in the Upper East Region; and the '''N12''', which connects [[Elubo]] in the Western Region to [[Hamile]] in the Upper West Region.;<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.highways.gov.gh/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=17&Itemid=40 |title=Road Network &#124; Greater Accra Region |access-date=2010-06-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110418035754/http://www.highways.gov.gh/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=17&Itemid=40 |archive-date=2011-04-18 |url-status=dead }}</ref> all connect Ghana to landlocked [[Burkina Faso]], where it joins another highway in the Trans-African network, the [[Trans-Sahelian Highway]].

The [[Volta River|Volta]], [[Ankobra River|Ankobra]], and [[Tano River|Tano]] rivers provide 168&nbsp;km of perennial navigation for launches and lighters; Lake Volta provides 1,125 kilometres of arterial and feeder waterway.

On July 4, 1958, the Ghanaian government established [[Ghana Airways]] connecting Ghana with other countries. By the mid-1990s, Ghana Airways operated international scheduled passenger and cargo service to numerous European, Middle Eastern, and African destinations, including London, Düsseldorf, Rome, Abidjan, Dakar, Lagos, Lomé, and Johannesburg. As a result of persistent management and financial problems, Ghana Airways ceased all operations and entered into liquidation in 2004.<ref name="aviation">Clark, Nancy L. "Civil Aviation". ''[http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/ghtoc.html A Country Study: Ghana]'' (La Verle Berry, editor). [[Library of Congress]] [[Federal Research Division]] (November 1994). ''This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the [[public domain]].[http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/about.html]''</ref>