Saboteurs offer GH¢20 inducement to derail and destroy new Tema-Afienya train
An ongoing investigation by the Ghana Railway Development Authority and the Ghana Police Service has uncovered a plot by suspected saboteurs to disrupt the new train service introduced on the Tema-Afienya route, Graphic Online has gathered.
There have been two incidents this week in an attempt to destroy or derail the new Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) train recently acquired by the railway company with support from the government, to help revamp its operations.
The DMU is currently being used to provide passenger services between Tema and Afienya on a newly constructed railway line between Tema and Mpakadan.
In the first incident, which happened on Monday [Oct 20, 2025], a minor was reportedly coerced into throwing stones at the moving train and ended up destroying the windshield in the frontage.
In the second incident, which happened the following day, Tuesday [Oct 21, 2025], another attempt was made to sabotage the railway by placing a stone on the tracks in an apparent effort to derail the train.
Two suspects have since been picked up by the police, a 10-year-old boy and another suspect, who are said to be linked to both incidents.
The investigation, currently still in its preliminary stages is showing that some suspected saboteurs paid ¢20 cedis each to the suspects as an inducement for them to carry out the act, though investigators have not yet determined the motive.
This week’s incident makes it the second time there has been an attempt to sabotage the smooth operation of the train service in that area.
In April 2024, at a time, the Ghana Railway Development Authority was testing the newly acquired DMU on the new track, a driver parked a truck on the rail line and it caused an accident damaging the train.
After that incident, the train service on the route was suspended. The new train was later repaired with the insurance cover, the passenger service did not immediately resume until October this year [2025].
On October 1, 2025, the railway development authority and the Ministry of Transport reactivated commercial operations on the Tema-Mpakadan railway line.
