The Ghana Railway Development Authority (GRDA) has cautioned the public against purchasing or leasing railway lands and buildings from individuals engaged in unauthorised transactions, warning that such deals are illegal and will not be recognised by the Authority.
In a public notice issued by the Chief Executive Officer of the GRDA, Dr. Frederick Appoh, under the directive of the Minister for Transport, Joseph Bukari Nikpe, the Authority said it had received reports of unlawful sales and leasing of railway properties in the Western, Western North and Ashanti regions.
According to the GRDA, investigations indicate that some unscrupulous individuals, including former workers of the defunct Ghana Railway Company Limited (GRCL), are behind the illegal transactions.
The Authority stated that the activities are being carried out without its approval and violate the Railways Act, 2008 (Act 779) as well as relevant provisions of the Public Financial Management Act, 2016 (Act 921).
The notice further disclosed that investigations had uncovered attempts by the perpetrators to legitimise the transactions through fraudulent means.
“It has come to the attention of the Authority that certain unscrupulous individuals, including some former workers of the erstwhile Ghana Railway Company Limited (GRCL), are illegally selling and leasing railway lands and properties in the Western, Western North, and Ashanti Regions. These actions are being carried out without the authority of the GRDA and are in direct violation of the Railways Act, 2008 (Act 779) and relevant provisions of the Public Financial Management Act, 2016 (Act 921),” the statement said.
It added, “Investigations further reveal that these individuals are fraudulently backdating transactions in an attempt to give them an appearance of legitimacy. The GRDA categorically states that such transactions are unlawful and will not be recognised by the Authority.”
The GRDA stressed that it would not regularise any lease agreements or transactions involving the former Ghana Railway Company Limited if they were conducted without lawful authority and in breach of the Presidential directive on the sale of government lands and assets.
“Accordingly, the public is hereby notified that the GRDA will not regularise any leases or transactions originating from the erstwhile GRCL where such dealings were undertaken without lawful authority, in contravention of the Presidential directive on the sale of government lands and assets,” the Authority stated.
The Authority urged prospective buyers and tenants to verify the legitimacy of any transaction involving railway lands or buildings before making any commitments.
GRDA said it is working closely with the appropriate state institutions to investigate the alleged illegal activities and ensure that those responsible face the full rigours of the law.
