Government will build the Western Corridor Railway Line from Takoradi through Nsuta and Awaso to Nyinahin with its own money, Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson has announced in the 2027 Budget Statement.
He said US3billion dollars is ready at the Bank of Ghana through the Petroleum and Minerals royalties to finance the 1billion -tonne bauxite corridor called the Hamile- Sahel Gateway from 2030.
Dr. Ato Forson said the project would not be financed through borrowing, but with petroleum revenues and mineral royalties, the same model used for the Accra-Kumasi Expressway.
“Mr. Speaker, we will build the Western Corridor Railway Line from Takoradi through Nsuta and Awaso to Nyinahin with our own money. Just as we pledged for the Accra-Kumasi Expressway, we will not borrow to build this railway. Our petroleum revenues and mineral royalties will finance it,” the Minister stated in the speech sighted by Radiant Media.
According to the Finance Minister, in 2027 and 2028, government will dedicate all petroleum revenue accruing to the budget and mineral royalties solely to the construction of the two monumental projects, the Accra-Kumasi Expressway and the Western Corridor Railway.
He said, President John Mahama has tasked the Ghana Armed Forces to secure the Right of Way for the railway while feasibility, engineering design, costing and environmental studies continue, replicating the military-led preparation that saved over US$1 billion on the Expressway.
Finance Minister revealed that the Accra-Kumasi Expressway estimate has dropped from US$4 billion to US$2.98 billion after detailed studies, and as of November 11, 2026, the project account at Bank of Ghana holds US$2.2 billion plus GH¢9 billion totaling about US$3 billion.
“The money is in the safe custody of the Bank of Ghana. We promised to secure the financing. We have done so,” he said.
He said the savings of over US$1 billion will be enough to construct the Accra Orbital Expressway.
The Minister said for decades lack of rail has left Ghana’s bauxite and manganese stranded.
“Ghana holds an estimated 1 billion tonnes of bauxite at Awaso and Nyinahin. That is hundreds of billions of dollars, sitting in our soil, waiting. Waiting for a railway and energy for value addition here in Ghana,” the Budget stated.
The line will carry manganese from Nsuta and bauxite from Awaso and Nyinahin to a new 24-hour critical-minerals processing enclave in the Western Region for value addition.
Under Pillar 4 of the New Economy US$1.5 billion Critical Minerals Value Addition, government will ban raw exports: 70% of artisanal gold refined locally by Dec 2027, 100% by 2028; 50% of manganese and bauxite processed by 2028, 100% by 2030.
In a major regional move, Dr. Ato Forson announced that Takoradi Port will be developed as Ghana’s principal maritime gateway to the Sahel.
“From 2030, this railway will be extended north-bound from Nyinahin to Hamile in the Upper West Region. A modern inland port at Hamile will serve Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger and the wider Sahel,” the speech stated.
The extension forms Phase 2 of the Western Corridor, a 1,012km Takoradi-Hamile line first disclosed by President Mahama at the $98.41m Berth 19 sod-cutting at Takoradi Port on Monday. The President described the Western Line as “the most profitable because of the manganese, the bauxite and all that” and “the ultimate gamechanger.”
The 2027 Budget marks a decisive shift to productive spending. Capital expenditure is GH¢98.3 billion, 61% more than interest payment of GH¢61 billion and 6% more than wages and salaries of GH¢92.7 billion. Total capital with transfers rises to GH¢120.5 billion, 6.7% of GDP.
“Let it be placed on record. The same revenue streams that were for over a decade spread thinly and spent on wasteful expenditures such as astroturfs, air tickets, per diems, newspapers, workshops and conferences, will now finance two monumental national investments in four years,” the Minister said.
He also announced a new Natural Resource Revenue Management Act to replace Petroleum Revenue Management Act, covering oil, gold, lithium, bauxite and all extractives, and a Ghana Sovereign Wealth Fund merging MIIF and GIIF to finance transformative projects.
The 2027 Budget targets 5.2% growth, 8±2% inflation, primary surplus 0.5% of GDP and six months import cover. No new taxes will be introduced.
