President John Dramani Mahama has announced that government is considering incorporating the Western Rail Line into its flagship “Big Push” infrastructure programme, citing its strategic importance to Ghana’s economic expansion.
Speaking at the 2026 May Day celebrations in Koforidua, in response to the Trades Union Congress (TUC), the President said completing the rail line would unlock key mineral resources and boost transport efficiency across the Western Corridor.
“It will make it easy to transport our cocoa beans from the plantations to the ports.”
The President noted that the government has worked very hard to revive many state-owned enterprises that were previously in a state of collapse, a bold step expected to sustain jobs and further open up the economy.
“I am pleased to inform you that the Tema Oil Refinery is back in operation,” he said.
President Mahama also disclosed that the government has recapitalised the Agricultural Development Bank (ADB) and the National Investment Bank (NIB). Tema Shipyard is bouncing back, and many other state-owned enterprises are now running more efficiently.”
He, however, said if workers fail to remain vigilant to prevent abuses that can undermine the gains, all the success chalked so far will go down the drain.
“I urge the TUC and organised labour not to sit back and look on aloof when management and governing boards are mismanaging their enterprises, because when these enterprises collapse, it is the workers that suffer the most,” he stated. “And so when you see things going wrong, don’t sit aloof. Point it out and make sure corrections are done.”
Referring to the theme for this year’s May Day, “Pivoting to Growth, Jobs and Sustainable Livelihoods, Resetting Ghana Beyond Macroeconomic Stability”, the President said it reflects exactly the road map of his administration.