Twelve individuals are expected to appear before the Tarkwa Circuit Court on Tuesday, October 7, for allegedly causing extensive damage to a section of the Tarkwa-Takoradi railway line at Akyem in the Tarkwa Nsuaem Municipality of the Western Region.
The suspects — Larry Kweku, Labin Moeshi, Isaac Arhin, Eliasu Asumah, Nureeden Kwabena, Idari Mobe, Kwame Simo, Bernice Adom, Jude Asuma, Alex Kofi Aquah, Jonathan Ayandoh, and Combat Daniel — were arrested in connection with illegal mining activities that have severely undermined the integrity of the railway infrastructure.
Western Regional Minister Joseph Nelson has called on traditional authorities to take stronger control of their communities and urged the Ghana Railways Authority (GRA) to intensify patrols to prevent further destruction.
He emphasized that the railway line, which plays a critical role in transporting manganese exports, is facing existential threats from illegal mining (galamsey) operations that have encroached on railway property.
A viral video that circulated on social media over the weekend showed a severely damaged portion of the line near Akyem, prompting a high-level inspection on Monday by the Regional Minister, the Member of Parliament for Tarkwa Nsuaem, Issah Salifu Taylor, and a National Security Liaison Officer.
Preliminary investigations revealed that illegal miners had excavated the soil beneath the railway bridge, removing its structural support and leaving sections of the metal rails suspended in mid-air. In some areas, entire tracks had been dismantled, and parts of the embankment had collapsed into nearby water bodies.
During the visit, the Assistant Superintendent of Tracks and Railways, Sampson Nyame, disclosed that monitoring efforts have become increasingly difficult due to the breakdown of the only rail car used for inspections.
Meanwhile, the Operational Commander of the Western-Central Police Command, ASP Den-Ben Eden Selassie, confirmed that the twelve suspects had been arrested and would be arraigned before court on October 7.
Visibly alarmed by the extent of the destruction, Minister Joseph Nelson reiterated his appeal for collective community vigilance, stressing that protecting national infrastructure is a shared responsibility.
However, some residents have accused certain officials within the Ghana Railways Authority of negligence. They allege that two officers had informed locals that the new standard-gauge railway line currently under construction would bypass Akyem — a claim residents believe has led to the neglect and vandalism of the existing line.
In response, youth groups and community volunteers have begun mobilising efforts to reclaim the affected illegal mining sites around the railway corridor, aiming to prevent further encroachment.
The situation at Akyem underscores the broader challenge of protecting Ghana’s strategic infrastructure from the impact of illegal mining. As the case proceeds in court, authorities are under pressure to ensure that those responsible are held accountable and that preventive measures are strengthened across all vulnerable rail networks.
