Twelve people are expected to appear before the Tarkwa Circuit Court today, October 7, 2025, for allegedly vandalising a section of the Tarkwa–Takoradi railway line near Akyem in the Tarkwa Nsuaem Municipality.

The Western Regional Minister, Joseph Nelson, has strongly condemned the act and urged traditional leaders to take greater responsibility for protecting their communities. He also called on the Ghana Railways Authority (GRA) to intensify patrols to safeguard the country’s critical railway infrastructure.

The damaged narrow-gauge railway line, owned by the Ghana Manganese Company Limited, serves as a key route for transporting manganese exports but has come under increasing threat from illegal mining activities in the area.

A viral video showing extensive damage to the line at Akyem prompted a high-level inspection on Monday by the Western Regional Minister, the MP for Tarkwa Nsuaem, Issah Salifu Taylor, and a National Security Liaison Officer.

Investigations revealed that illegal miners had dug beneath a railway bridge, leaving the metal rails suspended in mid-air. In some areas, sections of the track were dismantled, and parts of the embankment had collapsed into nearby water bodies.

Visibly disturbed by the level of destruction, Mr. Nelson stressed the need for stronger community vigilance and closer institutional collaboration to prevent further damage.

However, some residents accused officials of the GRA of neglect, claiming two officers had told them the new standard-gauge line under construction would bypass Akyem—an assertion they believe contributed to the abandonment and vandalism of the existing line.

In response, some youth and community members have begun mobilising to reclaim affected sites and restore order in the area.

The Assistant Superintendent of Tracks and Railways, Sampson Nyame, explained that monitoring operations have been hampered by the breakdown of the Authority’s only rail inspection vehicle.

Meanwhile, the Operational Commander of the Western-Central Police Command, ASP Den-Ben Eden Selassie, confirmed the arrest of twelve suspects in connection with the incident.