The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Railway Development Authority (GRDA), Dr. Frederick Appoh, has announced that the government has begun releasing GH₵11.6 million to settle up to seven months of outstanding salaries owed to railway workers.
This development comes after recent protests by the Railway Workers Union, who reported delays of up to 14 months in salary payments.
Speaking on Citi Eyewitness News on Thursday, March 26, Dr. Appoh explained that when the current management took office, they discovered that the unpaid salaries dated back to 2024.
He also revealed discrepancies in staff records, noting that while official figures listed about 1,300 employees, a forensic audit confirmed the actual workforce to be 960.
Dr. Appoh said the Authority, working together with the Ghana Railway Company Limited, pursued internal revenue-generating initiatives, including the sale of scrap materials, which brought in around GH₵21.5 million.
However, he noted that during reconciliation, some contractors raised claims over unpaid consignments worth about GH₵10 million, which reduced the funds available.
“We received GH₵21.5 million, but the Ministry was still reconciling the accounts. I’m pleased to say that yesterday, the Ministry of Finance approved the release of GH₵11.6 million,” he stated.
He added that the funds have been forwarded to the Ministry of Transport to pay workers at the Ghana Railway Company Limited, covering approximately seven months of arrears across the workforce.
Dr. Appoh further stated that the Authority will engage key stakeholders—including the Trades Union Congress (TUC), the Railway Workers Union, the National Labour Commission, and the Ministry of Transport—to develop a fair and sustainable payment plan to avoid a recurrence of the issue.
He also indicated that efforts are ongoing to identify additional revenue sources to fully clear the remaining arrears owed to workers.
